Tuesday, July 10, 2018

An Inspirational Story from the only South Korea Participant at the 2018 Paris Gay Games

A truly inspirational story written by a Gay Games 10 Paris 2018 participant, who heard about the Paris event through Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022. They were unable to afford to attend, until they were sponsored by the French embassy.
My name is Jiyun Jeon and I am going to participate in a swimming competition at the 2018 Paris Gay Games (200m freestyle, 50m backstroke). At this moment, I suppose that I am the only Korean participant in this event. Actually, without the support of the French Embassy in South Korea, it might be impossible for me to go Paris. Therefore, I would like to share my story with you.
Originally, I am a member of FC Canon Shooter, which is a feminist & LGBTQ friendly female amateur futsal team. In February 2018, a ministry of sports in France “Laura Flessel” visited South Korea to participate at the Pyeongchang Olympics.There, the embassy of France made a venue for LGBTQ right activists and people enjoying sports in LGBTQ friendly club to meet Laura Flessel. At the gathering, activists explained the current situation in the LGBTQ community and human rights in Korea.  Also, everyone discussed how to make Olympics become more open and equal to everyone, whatever their sexual identity might be. At that time, for the first time, I learned about the “gay olympics” that will be held in Paris. However, it sounds like a dream for me.
At that place, I also talked about my fultsal team members wish, the members of FC Canon Shooter’s wanted me to wear an uniform to promote our team at the luncheon. Unfortunately, the weather was freezing cold and I didn’t have any idea what to wear at that venue. So, I just wore formal clothes, not uniform. When I shared that story with Laura Flessel, surprisingly she and an Ambassador of France in Korea suggested to me, “why don’t we take a picture with your team wearing uniform?”, when Laura Flessel visited South Korea again to participate in Paralympics in March. Therefore, I happily accepted that suggestion.
In a month(on 8 March 2018),  that event really happened in Seoul, South Korea.
And just like that, the friendship between FC Canon Shooter and the embassy of France began! With these two surprising events, the embassy of France in Korea requested to know if any of the FC Canon Shooter members could participate in the 2018 Paris Gay Games. They said that they could support one person from a team, by covering the cost for flight ticket and meal during visit. After having a discussion within the team, I decided to attend the game. As other members can’t afford to go Paris, I changed the subject of sport from futsal to swimming as I’ve enjoyed it for 7 years. Therefore, on behalf of my team, I would like to actively participate in this meaningful game and expand the LGBTQ network as well.
Besides that, I would like to share the story of 2018 queer female games as well.
17 June 2018 in Seoul, for the first time Korean LGBTQ acitivst groups held the queer female games in Seoul. No matter what their sexual identity, LGBTQ people were able to freely attend this event and enjoy the game itself. There are 3 kinds of competitions, badminton, basketball and relay running.
Actually, in 2017 same the event was supposed to be held. However, some homophobic religious groups for several days kept making horrific calls to the local government and protesting in front of a stadium that is planned to be a venue. As a result, a month before the planned event date the local government cancelled the reservation of that place.That’s why the queer female game was delayed to this year.
In order to celebrate 2018 female queer games in Korea, the organization asked FC Canon Shooter to have a pre-match with a rival. Therefore on 10 June 2018 FC Canon Shooter had a match with another female futsal team. For your ref, I have shared a picture with you below:
Also, in September 2018, the embassy of France in Korea will invite us to the France Sports Festival. We are going to have a match with a French school team supporting LGBTQ rights.
The FC Canon Shooter members really hope to participate at Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022, as it is not very far from South Korea. Therefore, I really wish to meet as many people from Asia as I can in Paris. Also, as it is very meaningful experience for me, if it is possible, I would like to interview organizers of 2018 Paris Gay Games.
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