Apollo Friends in Sport
Formed in 1981, Apollo Friends in Sport (Apollo) came into existence after a small group of individuals came together with an idea to form an athletic social group in Calgary, Alberta. The idea was to fulfill the needs of like-minded people with a sport tournament and social activities. Four people attended the first meeting.
Apollo is a volunteer-operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (2SLGBTQ+) communities but is open to members of all communities. The primary focus of Apollo is to provide our members and participants with well organized and fun sporting events and other activities to allow them to participate and interact in a positive social framework.
western cup
Apollo's multi-sport festival, Western Cup, 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.
In addition to the athletic events, our participants attend nightly social events at the luxurious Hyatt Regency in the heart of downtown Calgary: Thursday’s Registration, Friday’s One Night in Monaco, and on Saturday we transform The Hyatt’s Imperial Ballroom into Calgary’s largest queer dance party. Then the next morning, we cap it all off with the ever-hilarious Drag Brunch.
As always, at the Western Cup Dance we have an amazing lineup of DJs and have state-of-the-art lighting and sound to make for an unforgettable night. For our sponsors, it will be your chance to get your brand in front of our guests while supporting a great cause.
Every year a portion of our proceeds are donated to local charities supporting youth, sports, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Our generous sponsors make Western Cup possible, and because of their donations, we are able to give back to the communities we serve. This past year, Apollo was pleased to give back to three deserving local organizations:⠀⠀⠀⠀
Beswick House: The SHARP Foundation operates Beswick House in Calgary, a 10 bed facility providing 24 hour care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Care includes psycho-social, personal care, and palliative end of life care.
Centre for Sexuality: For 50 years, the Centre has been leading the way in the areas of sexuality, healthy relationships, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientations, equality and consent.
Skipping Stone Foundation, whose mission is connecting trans and gender diverse youth, adults and families with comprehensive and low barrier access to the support they need and deserve including community, mental health, medical services and educational opportunities.