Vorspiel, Berlin’s queer sports club
Vorspiel – Queerer Sportverein Berlin e.V. is a multi-sport club for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: gay, straight, bi, trans* and intersex people. It describes itself as a meeting place and “a piece of home”. Official website: vorspiel-berlin.de. The information below comes from that site; times and fees can change, so check before you go.
History
Founded on 11 November 1986 in West Berlin as the Schwuler Sportverein Vorspiel (SSV) by gay Berlin athletes who had been to the first Gay Games in San Francisco. The name was meant to provoke.
About 60 members in 1988. After the fall of the Wall, gay men from the East joined (1989–1990). In 1992 the first lesbian member joined; the club was also in a dispute with the Berlin athletics federation over its name, settled in its favour in 1998. Around 1992–93, about 600 members.
In 1996 Vorspiel hosted the fourth Eurogames: over 3,300 athletes in 17 sports. In 1998 members voted to open the club to lesbians and the name became “Vorspiel – Sportverein für Schwule und Lesben Berlin e.V.”. In 2001 the first woman was elected to the board. Today, according to the club, more than 1,500 people play sport with it every day, and it calls itself the second-largest gay and lesbian sports club in Europe.
The 40 sports
The club offers 40 sports in five families, from leisure to competition to health sport. The weekly plan also mentions sitting volleyball for FLINTA* on Sundays and open-water swimming in summer.
- Ball and racket sports (12): Badminton; basketball (men); ice hockey; football (men); handball; indiaca; squash; tennis; table tennis; Völkerball (dodgeball); volleyball women/FLINTA; volleyball men*
- Water (2): Swimming; water polo
- Combat and relaxation (8): Alexander technique; Chi; Feldenkrais; Krav Maga (civilian); Qigong; Taijiquan (tai chi); Ving Tsun (southern Chinese boxing); yoga
- Strength and fitness (11): Aerobics; abdominal training; functional training; fitness for all; interval training & Pilates; running; athletics; Nordic walking; road cycling; hiking; Zumba
- Dance and health (7): Cheerleading; fitness for older adults (“Rostfrei”); line dance; couple dancing; salsa; tango; back exercises
When
Sessions run every day of the week, mostly late afternoon and evening, with several slots at the weekend (volleyball, Völkerball, running, hiking, line dance, and in summer road cycling and open-water swimming). Some classes are also hybrid, such as yoga 50+, back exercises and Feldenkrais. The weekly plan gives the times, and “Fit zu Hause” offers exercises for home. For venues, ask the club.
Membership
Annual fee (from 1 April 2025): €192; reduced €96 for students, trainees, young people up to 21, pensioners, unemployed people, people with a severe disability (50% or more), federal volunteers and military or replacement service. Paying the year by 15 February earns a discount of one monthly fee. The first year is pro rata.
Trial sessions: up to four in a row within one month, free and without obligation, with accident insurance (not covering the journey). Pick a class, contact the department and arrange your visit.
To join: fill in and sign the membership application (PDF on the site, English version available) and send it to the club. Supporting membership: at least the reduced rate, without taking part in sport. Suspended membership: 6 to 24 months on application to the board. Cancellation: in writing, only at the end of a quarter (31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December), at least six weeks before; fees already due must still be paid and fees paid in advance are not refunded.
Contact and projects
Phone: 030 44 05 77 40. E-mail: mail@vorspiel-berlin.de. The club also runs the “Refugees Welcome 2026” project, organises tournaments (for example a St Nicholas volleyball tournament) and takes part in Berlin’s queer life, such as the rainbow flag raising at Schöneberg town hall.
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