At the Rio Olympics only 54 athletes were openly LGBTI but they on 25 medals, including 10 gold medals. Some of them even became national heroes, like Brazilian judoka Rafaela Silva, which won Brazil’s first Olympic gold medal in Rio. Therefore, even though sport is one of spheres were even in the most progressive countries openly LGBTI athletes are rare, sport can be a tool for creating positive attitudes towards LGBTI people and can help LGBTI community strengthen itself. In this youth exchange we were striving to understand how athletes can serve as positive role models for young people, how some openly LGBTI athletes have made tremendous contribution to LGBTI movement (Martina Navratilova is one of the best and earliest examples), how sport and recreation activities can help young people meet new friends and develop support network.
Athletes are important role models from young people and many LGBTI youth were growing up without appropriate role-models, which is why the rising number of openly LGBTI athletes is so important for the wellbeing and self-confidence of LGBTI youth, especially of those LGBTI youth that are aspiring athletes. At the same time, many straight athletes have been vocal in their support for equal rights for LGBTI people, which also had positive impact on worldview of straight youth.
Also, in this youth exchange we explored problems within the LGBTI community, above all the discrimination and marginalization of trans and intersex people and how sport activities can be used for their integration into the LGBTI community. We have done a full day hike up the beautiful Pljesevica mountain, which is not only meant to acquire positive attitudes towards more active lifestyle, but also to show how hiking can be an excellent opportunity for young people to meet new people and create networks of support and friendship among LGBTI youth. After the youth exchange, young people have continued organizing hiking trips in their local communities.
