The European Games, a continental version of the Olympics which was staged for the first time in Azerbaijan and the second time in Minsk is under a dark shadow over the Krakow region where the Games are to be held in 2023 insisting on maintaining local legislation declaring itself to be an LGBT free zone.
The organising committee of the Games insists that all competitors will be treated with respect and that there will be no discrimination of any kind. That does not tally with the prevailing political mood however with a motion to expunge the legislation defeated this week.
The leader of the Council is the father of the Polish President Andrzej Duda and the political party they both represent says that the maintaining of the legislation is a victory for democracy and self-governance.
The European Union has threatened to withhold €2.5 billion in funding set aside for the region, which may put the funding of the Games at risk, though whether athletes would want to compete in an area where there was such discriminatory language on the state books is open to doubt.
There has yet to be an open bidding process for the European Games with Baku, Minsk and Krakow all chosen as a result of being the only bidder.
The Games were closely associated with Irish former President of the European Olympic Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland, Pat Hickey.
Katie Taylor and Michael O’Reilly won Gold Medals in boxing at the first Games. Kurt Walker did likewise at the second Games in Minsk with Kellie Harrington winning Silver.
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