ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Gender-neutral toilets are a feature of every stadium where matches are being played at this summer's UEFA European Football Championship.

This is the first major tournament to offer unisex toilets for all spectators.

Gender-neutral toilets form part of a major anti-discrimination strategy on the part of UEFA. Organisers of the event are aiming to "embrace gender identities and expressions as a spectrum that is not limited to a binary concept".

"Euro 2024 is all about people and a common passion that brings together individuals of different ages, backgrounds, nationalities and abilities," says UEFA in its Euro 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy report.

"We want to prevent and fight all forms of discrimination and ensure the rights of all are protected. Euro 2024 celebrates diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all social groups, communities and minorities can be a part of it."

Many LGBT+ supporters decided not to travel to the World Cup in Qatar where homosexuality is illegal. Fans who did make the trip were repeatedly stopped from entering stadiums when wearing items of clothing or carrying banners containing rainbow colours.

Football supporters also faced murder threats from far-right gangs when travelling to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

During the 2024 Euros, fans have the option of entering the stadia via gender-neutral queues where body searches are carried out by a mix of male and female staff members.

The Euros are being played in 10 stadiums across Germany and will culminate with the final on July 14.