Adidas today (April 26, 2017) announced plans to sponsor World OutGames Miami 2017, a ten-day, multi-sport event that will take place from May 26-June 4, 2017. Sporting events include basketball, track and field, running, soccer, bodybuilding, field hockey, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and more.
Making its U.S. debute, the event will welcome LGBTQI athletes from more than 40 countries, many where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden. The Global LGBTQI Human Rights Conference will be held in conjunction with the event from May 26-May 29, along with multiple cultural events, including art exhibits, history tours, a poetry reading with renowned poet Robert Pinsky and a film festival.
“We believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives,” said adidas North America president Mark King. “We believe in the power of sport and its ability to transcend differences and unite people around hope and celebration. Sport plays a critical role in our culture today and we can harness that influence to make real change for the world. We want to foster a culture in sports that celebrates diversity and provides a safe place for everyone to play.”
Adidas’s connection with the event reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to walking the walk when it comes to issues related to equality, a commitment recognized by the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index that gave Adidas a perfect score of 100 in 2016 and 2017 for creating a workplace that prioritizes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
World OutGames held its first event in 2006 in Montreal and since then has held competitions in 2009 and 2013. World OutGames Miami 2017 is licensed by the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association, which was founded in 2006.
