Gender Diversity in University and Recreational Sports: Rethinking Participation for All Genders
On March 31, 2026 (Transgender Day of Visibility), Graz University of Technology hosted the Austria-wide event “Gender Diversity in University and Recreational Sports”. The event focused on creating safer, more inclusive opportunities for trans, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals to participate in university and recreational sports.
Broadcast from the University of Graz to multiple locations and online, the event brought together universities, student councils, and queer sports initiatives. 100% Sport was represented by EWS member Liam Strasser, advisor on gender diversity in sports, who joined a panel discussion on inclusive sports structures. The program included an expert presentation by Jannis Ruhnau (Bielefeld University, Germany) on body shaping, self-care, and empowerment in strength training from trans and non-binary perspectives. A panel discussion followed, exploring how universities, sports clubs, and federations can reduce barriers and strengthen belonging in sports. Participants also had the chance to explore inclusive sports initiatives through workshops and activities under the theme “Inclusion in Motion.” The event highlighted several key areas for action: integrating gender diversity into safety policies, rethinking binary sports structures, creating inclusive spaces and language, and recognizing lived expertise within sports communities.