Local authorities in the Polish city of Krakow have pledged to fund the building of the country’s first refuge hostel for LGBTQ+ people, following backlash to the announcement that it would be hosting the 2023 European Games.
Many opposed the decision to allow Krakow to host the sporting event, as it is located in the Małopolska region of Poland, which is one of 100 areas to have signed a pledge promising to ‘oppose acts of tolerance’ towards the LGBTQ+ community. Liz Barker, a UK politician, said: “The European Games is an Olympic event and as such it should uphold the values of excellence, respect and friendship” and argued Krakow was not fit to host the games considering local authority’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community.