On November 15, the VI Conference on LGTBIQ+, Physical Education, and Sport brought together researchers and practitioners from across Europe to discuss ways to promote inclusion and equity in sports and physical education. Hosted by INEFC (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya) and supported by the Spanish High Council for Sports (Consejo Superior de Deportes), the conference provided a valuable space for dialogue, learning, and collective reflection.
Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Marina Castro-García had the honor of representing the University of Limerick at this event, alongside distinguished researchers and experts. Her presentation, titled “deportigualízate: Towards Critical Feminist Pedagogies in Physical Education,” explored how critical feminist approaches can reimagine physical education to foster more inclusive and democratic spaces.
The conference opened with a warm welcome from the organizers, followed by a presentation by Dr. Bart Bloem Herraiz, who offered valuable insights into the experiences of transgender individuals in outdoor and adventure sports. Later in the day, researchers from Leeds Beckett University, including Drs. Scarlett Drury, Hayley Fitzgerald, and Annette Stride, delivered thought-provoking sessions on belonging and inclusion in sports organizations.
The event showcased the strength of international collaboration and the dedicated work of the ‘Research Network on LGTBIQ+, Physical Education and Sport,’ led by INEFC. This network includes members from seven Spanish universities: INEFC, the University of Valencia, the University of the Basque Country, the University of Seville, the University of Córdoba, the University of Valladolid, and Rey Juan Carlos University. International participants include scholars from the University of Limerick, Monash University, Bournemouth University, the German Sport University Cologne, the University of East London, Queensland University, among others.
Learn more about this inspiring Research Network at: https://inefc.gencat.cat/es/inefc/projectes_institucionals/responsabilitat-social/xarxa-investigacio-lgtbi/index.html.
Dr. Marina Castro García is a postdoctoral researcher in the Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, at the University of Limerick.
Contact: marina.castrogarcia@ul.ie. Follow on X: @M_CastroGarcia. Research Profiles: ORCID: 0000-0002-0741-3276
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