OTTAWA, ON – Atletico Ottawa is proud to announce its partnership with You Can Play, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting LGBTQ inclusion in sports. This partnership is part of Atletico Ottawa’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse environment within the organization and the broader community.
As part of this partnership, Atletico Ottawa will be implementing a Pride 365 campaign, providing sensitivity training to staff and players, which is a pillar of the club’s wider community development strategy that includes a commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community all year round.
“Atletico Ottawa is committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity in soccer, and we are thrilled to partner with You Can Play to achieve this goal,” said Fernando Lopez, CEO, Atlético Ottawa. “We believe that everyone should be able to participate in sports, whether they are playing or spectating, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. By working with You Can Play, we hope to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our players, staff, fans and wider Ottawa/Gatineau community.”
The Pride 365 campaign is a pillar of Atletico Ottawa’s community development strategy. This campaign will celebrate and promote LGBTQ inclusion in sports, with a focus on creating safe spaces for LGBTQ athletes and fans. As part of this campaign, Atletico Ottawa will be hosting a Pride game in August, the club will take part in the annual Capital Pride parade alongside You Can Play, and we will work alongside local LGBTQ organizations and our official supporter’s groups to promote LGBTQ-friendly policies and practices.
“You Can Play is thrilled to partner with Atletico Ottawa to support their efforts and pledge to 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in soccer,” said Heidi Johnson, Sports Partnerships Manager, You Can Play. “Our partnership demonstrates Atletico Ottawa’s commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone in the soccer community. We look forward to working with Atletico Ottawa to promote diversity and inclusivity in sports.
For more information on Atletico Ottawa, please visit https://atleticoottawa.canpl.
For more information on You Can Play, please visit https://www.youcanplayproject.