“As long as people are discriminated against, we are still needed.” Andrea Löwe on Cologne’s queer sports club SC Janus

SC Janus was founded as a registered association in 1980, emerging from a group of gay volleyball players in Cologne. Today, it is considered the oldest and largest queer sports club in Europe. With more than 2,200 members, over 100 coaches, a wide-ranging sports programme and an annual multisport tournament attracting hundreds of participants, the club is both athletically diverse and socially relevant.

At SC Janus, sport, safe space and political statement go hand in hand. Chairwoman Andrea Löwe explains why size also creates visibility, why hate is still a reality and what role Cologne plays in the club’s success.

Between fitness and diversity – SC Janus in Cologne

SC Janus is considered the oldest and largest queer sports club in Europe. How would you describe the club to someone who has never heard of you – beyond the numbers and the range of sports on offer? What truly defines Janus?

We are a large grassroots sports club with an unusually diverse range of activities. Alongside classic team and individual sports, we also offer some more unusual or niche disciplines, such as FLINTA* plus-size fitness (a class for women, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people) or Feldenkrais. At the same time, we cover a broad spectrum – from health-focused activities and programmes for older people to competitive league teams.

This diversity is something I rarely see in traditional sports clubs. Many are either strongly performance-oriented or clearly focused on recreational sports. At SC Janus, both exist side by side under one roof. That is what makes us special.

“Gay men openly doing sport together – we have always been political.”
Andrea Löwe, chairwoman of SC Janus

SC Janus was founded in 1980, emerging from a gay volleyball group in the late 1970s. How important were those early years? And how political was sport back then?

As a registered association, we have existed since 8 March 1980. Before that, there was a volleyball group from which the club developed. And of course sport was political at the time – simply because gay men were visibly playing sport together. That was by no means the norm.

In many other cities, queer sports initiatives later split up into separate lesbian or gay clubs, or into individual sports groups. In Cologne, we made a conscious decision early on to stay united and keep everything under one roof. That decision made us large – and visible. And size also brings influence and public visibility.

“We are the largest queer interest group in Cologne.”
Andrea Löwe, chairwoman of SC Janus

There are comparable multisport clubs in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Munich. But we are still the oldest and largest queer sports club in Europe. And even compared to Berlin, we are still the larger club – despite the city being much bigger. That is quite remarkable.

What role does sport play in the club today? Is it primarily about creating a safe space – or is athletic ambition the main focus?

Both are inseparable. Of course, sport is central – with training sessions, tournaments and, in some cases, competitive league teams. But in Cologne, we are also the largest queer interest group in terms of sheer numbers.

Even though our statutes do not define us as a political organisation, our work has a political impact. Visibility and the promotion of tolerance are at the heart of what we do.

“Safe space” is a term that is used frequently today. For us, it means something very real: we provide a safe space for people of every orientation and identity – and explicitly also for heterosexual members. We are not an isolated space, but open to everyone who wants to take part in sport in a respectful environment.

For many people, sport is a central part of life – whether competitively, as a balance to everyday stress, or as a way to build community. That is why it is so important that spaces exist where people can train regardless of their background, identity or orientation.

About SC Janus e. V. :

• Founded: 8 March 1980 (emerging from a gay volleyball group in the late 1970s)
• Status: the oldest and largest queer sports club in Europe
• Members: more than 2,200
• Structure: more than 100 coaches and numerous training groups across different performance levels
• Programme: dozens of sports, ranging from classic team and individual disciplines to health-focused activities and competitive league teams
• Mission: an open grassroots sports club and safe space for people of all identities and orientations
• Highlight: the annual Queer Games, a multisport tournament with several hundred participants
• Engagement: active involvement in regional and national queer sports networks
• Funding: fully self-financed, without public funding

Isn’t it also a little sad that in 2026 a club like SC Janus is still needed?

Yes, that’s one way to look at it. But as long as people are discriminated against or attacked because of their identity or orientation, places like this remain essential.

“In my self-defence classes, many participants report experiences of violence because of their identity or orientation.”
Andrea Löwe, chairwoman of SC Janus

Queer hostility and violence have always existed. What may be new is that hate has become more visible and less filtered, especially on social media. Just look at the comments under articles or posts – the level of hostility can be striking.

I teach self-defence classes, and I have yet to run a course in which a large number of participants did not report experiences of violence because of their identity or orientation. That is the reality.

More than just training: promoting queer diversity through sport

Do you sense a social backlash?

There have been both positive developments and worrying trends. The fact that Cologne now has a police unit that records queer-hostile attacks is an important step.

At the same time, we are seeing a political shift to the right. That creates uncertainty. I don’t believe we will be able to do without protective spaces like ours any time soon.

Cologne is often described as particularly tolerant. Is the city a kind of secret ingredient in your success?

Cologne certainly has a mentality that encourages openness – Carnival, Pride and a long-established queer scene all play a part. That helps. But we should not fool ourselves into thinking we live on an island of queer happiness.

Even in Cologne, there is violence and hostility. Even in neighbourhoods known for their queer scene, there are bouncers outside bars at weekends. That is not without reason. Violent people exist everywhere.

My experiences from self-defence classes apply to Cologne as well. We should not fool ourselves: acceptance is not something we can take for granted.

In recent years, you have received several awards, for example being recognised as a “role model for diversity in sport”. What practical impact do such awards have?

First and foremost, they are a form of recognition for decades of work. The social dimension of sport is often underestimated.

We are entirely self-funded and receive no public funding. At the same time, we take part in many city events – Pride, queer events and community activities – all on a voluntary basis.

Awards help us to be recognised as a serious partner. Not just as a sports club people turn to when large numbers of volunteers are needed. They also give us momentum – politically as well.

Play, pride and people: the Queer Games

One of the club’s defining events is the Queer Games. How would you describe this event?

At its core, the Queer Games are an annual multisport tournament. Different sports host competitions across various performance levels.

n addition, there is a supporting programme, including an opening event, shared activities, a closing brunch and, of course, a party. People who do not take part in the competitions can also join in.

Queer Games Cologne
Save the date: 7 to 9 August
The Queer Games are SC Janus’s annual multisport tournament, featuring competitions across a range of sports and performance levels, alongside a programme designed for meeting people, networking and building community.

Last year, around 800 participants took part. In the future, we would like to reach the 1,000 mark. But numbers are not the main focus. The real aim is bringing people together and building connections. It is about competition, but just as much about new encounters, old friendships and community.

Where do you see SC Janus and queer sport in Cologne in ten years?

Our ambitions are limited by very real challenges: a lack of sports facilities and the poor condition of existing ones. This affects all sports clubs in Cologne. We could grow further – if we had access to more training space.

Beyond that, we want to continue using sport to promote peaceful and diverse coexistence. We are well connected, for example through the national network for queer sport.

An important milestone is the new office for queer sport within the regional sports association. The aim is to strengthen awareness in mainstream grassroots sport – for example in working with trans or non-binary athletes, as well as in questions around pronouns or changing-room situations. These developments are crucial.

Would large-scale events such as the Gay Games, which were held in Cologne in 2010, be conceivable again?

Not at the moment. Events of that scale are organisationally comparable to the Olympic Games, requiring years of preparation, thousands of hours of work and significant financial resources.

All of our work is based on voluntary commitment. Even now, it already represents a considerable workload. That is why we focus on the Queer Games and our ongoing club activities. That is more than enough.

“Sport is our tool – diversity is our goal.”
Andrea Löwe, chairwoman of SC Janus

What is your personal wish for the future?

That queer people can take part in sport everywhere without hesitation – not just in our club. That awareness continues to grow across all sports clubs, including those in smaller towns. And that SC Janus remains a place where people feel safe while also pursuing their sporting ambitions.

Sport is our tool. But ultimately, it is about something bigger: respect, visibility and peaceful coexistence in this city. If we can contribute to that, then we have fulfilled our mission.

Andrea Löwe has been chairwoman of SC Janus since 2017. Together with her fellow board member, she is responsible for the club’s strategic development, which now has more than 2,200 members. Alongside her self-employment, she teaches self-defence classes and brings her practical experience of working with queer people into the club’s activities and networks. One of her key goals is to further professionalise the club’s structures, ensuring it remains effective and continues to have a lasting social impact.