Apollo Friends In Sports is a volunteer-operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, but open to members of all communities. The primary focus of Apollo is to provide its membership with well-organized and fun sporting events and other activities to allow them to participate and interact in a positive social framework.
Founded in 1981 with a humble beginning of only four members it has grown into an organization with over 400 members. From its inception Apollo helped our community find a place in sport, by creating teams and leagues, being the incubator for other sports teams and leagues and by creating events.
“We believe that the opportunities afforded to our community to participate in sport in safe spaces has been beneficial to the mental and physical health in our community. We also believe Apollo has been instrumental in assisting our community to achieve greater acceptance in the city of Calgary and beyond. Sport often does not feel like a safe space for many queer people. We believe that the efforts of Apollo instigated a change in this city that means that many in our community now feel that sport is a part of their community and their lives.”
Apollo is also responsible for creating North America’s longest running multi-sport queer festival, the Western Cup. Apollo’s multi-sport festival sees over 1,300 attendees and athletes from across North America compete in a range of sport tournaments spanning volleyball, bowling, curling, dodgeball, hockey, cross-country skiing, and most recently badminton and pickleball. It further provides a safe social space with a variety of non-sporting activities during the days of the Cup.
