On June 27-30, 2024, Athlete Ally, in partnership with adidas and the University of Louisville, will host the 2024 Athlete Activism Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the course of four days, college athletes, coaches, and administrators from across the country will convene to build community, gain knowledge, and commit to actions to help expand LGBTQI+ inclusion and allyship on their campuses.
Athlete Ally staff and event co-hosts will share how they are using education, policy reform, athlete activism, and groundbreaking research to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sport. We will hear from athletes & activists on how visibility and representation can shape collective power, and from QTBIPOC athletes & allies on intersectional activism. Attendees will cycle through breakouts on storytelling and campus advocacy. To cap off the Summit, we will lay out a blueprint for where we go from here to maximize our collective impact.
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THE 2024 GAME PLAN
Thursday, June 27 – WELCOME
The Welcome Reception will bring attendees together to get acquainted, establish individual goals for our time together, and help ensure that the resources and relationships developed at the Summit continue to grow after attendees leave.
Friday, June 28 – INSPIRE
We move forward as a community of athlete activists when we inspire and learn from one another. Dynamic speakers and facilitators will share their expertise and lead attendees in understanding each others’ journeys of advocacy and allyship.
Saturday, June 29 – CONNECT
Connection is the glue that holds advocacy movements together. Attendees will have the opportunity to “choose their own adventure” by connecting with one another in affinity groups and selecting breakout sessions to hone specific advocacy and organizing skills.
Sunday, June 30 – ACTIVATE
This weekend is just the beginning. Attendees will commit to clear action plans to scale up LGBTQI+ inclusion efforts on their campus. The Athlete Activism Summit will conclude with a community-wide event that promotes athlete activism and allyship in sports and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
When and where is the event being held?
This year, we are headed to Louisville from June 27-30, 2024. We will be staying at a hotel in the Nulu area and the majority of sessions will take place on the University of Louisville’s campus. Upon registering for the event, you will receive additional details on accommodations, transportation and the event schedule.
Who is allowed to attend the event?
We welcome anyone interested in LGBTQI+ athlete advocacy to attend! We extend our invitations to college students, administrators, and athletic coaches to attend the weekend festivities! Most of the discussion topics will cater to members of the LGBTQI+ community, but we welcome any and all allies who want to learn more about ways to support these members of our athlete community. If you are a staff member, we’d like to kindly request that you register yourself as well as at least two students to attend as our Summit is primarily for student athletes.
How much does the Summit cost?
Early bird tickets are now available. Ticket cost is $350 for student-athletes and $600 for coaches, admins, staff. This ticket includes most meals, transportation to/from all sessions, the welcome reception, evening events, interactive sports hour and all sessions. This ticket pricing will only be available until March 4th and then pricing will increase. For questions about financial assistance, please contact us.
Is financial support offered to attend the conference and who qualifies?
As a student-athlete, we recommend that you reach out to your athletic department first to explore if there are any funds to help support you. We are in the process of determining a small amount of limited funds from Athlete Ally to help select students join the Summit. Please reach out to summitinfo@athleteally.org to apply for assistance.
How did you select Louisville as the host campus?
Every year, our goal is to host the Summit in a different region of the country and reach as many students as possible. Having previously held Summits on both coasts, this year, we prioritized a host city situated in the middle of the country. We explored a variety of locations that have a supportive college campus that aligns with Athlete Ally’s mission and values.
We recognize that LBGTQI+ people exist in all spaces, even in regions where discriminatory laws persist. Our aim is to ensure the Summit is accessible to LGBTQI+ individuals and allies across the country, especially in spaces where allyship and community is direly needed.
After thoughtful consideration, Louisville, Kentucky emerged as our top choice for the 2024 Athlete Activism Summit. Known as the home of athlete activist, Muhammad Ali, our team felt drawn to Louisville’s small-town feel and its commitment to LGBTQI+ inclusion. Louisville has also earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index every year since 2015 stands as a testament to this commitment.
In alignment with the Athlete Ally mission, the University of Louisville has a perfect Athletic Equality Index (AEI). Their staff and student-athletes have attended the past two Summits, demonstrating their commitment to driving LGBTQI+ inclusion on their campus and the broader community. We cannot wait to share the incredible aspects of Louisville with our attendees in June.
TICKETING & REGISTRATION
What is included in the ticket price?
The price of admission includes most meals, shuttle transportation to/from the hotel to on-campus sessions, the Welcome Reception, all panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and evening events. The price of admission does not include the cost of a hotel, transportation to/from the airport and flight.
Is there a registration deadline?
Yes, registration will close for the Athlete Activism Summit on April 26th. Early bird ticket prices will be available from January 8th until March 3rd. Ticket prices will increase beginning March 4th and remain available until April 26th.
Is there a minimum or maximum amount of tickets that I can reserve for my school? Are administrators, coaches and student-athletes all welcome?
We welcome administrators, coaches, staff and student-athletes all to attend. There is no minimum or maximum amount of tickets that need to be secured by an individual school to attend the Summit. We highly recommend that any administrators and/or staff be accompanied by at least two student-athletes from their institution.
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS
What day and time should I arrive? Where should I fly?
We recommend you hold on booking any travel until our registration has launched with information on ticketing fees, accommodations and the event timeline. Our schedule will look similar to last year with a Welcome Reception on Thursday, June 27th in the evening and a Sunday early afternoon event.
Where should I book a hotel?
We are finalizing our hotel block which will be available to all registered participants at a reduced rate of $199/night + taxes. Please complete registration and look out for an email with details to reserve. We strongly recommend you utilize our hotel block for convenience of getting around to the Summit events. We will not be able to support any transportation from hotels outside of our hotel block.
EVENT LOGISTICS
I would love to attend, how do I register?
Please register here.
What time does the Summit begin and end?
The Summit begins on the early evening of Thursday, June 27th and will end around 1pm on Sunday, June 30th.
What are you doing to ensure my safety at the event?
Athlete Ally is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all attendees to enjoy. We will be coordinating closely with the University of Louisville and surrounding areas for a full safety plan.
Will there be food that accommodates dietary restrictions?
Yes, we will have gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options at every meal. Please indicate any dietary restrictions on the registration form.
Is there a virtual attendance option?
No, as of right now the event is a completely in-person experience for our attendees.
If I have any other questions, who do I contact?
If you have any more questions, please email us at summitinfo@athleteally.org
PROGRAM
Is there content and programming specifically for administrators & coaches as well as student-athletes?
Yes! This year we are offering valuable programming for student-athletes, administrators, and coaches. We have planned two separate tracks for students and staff members, to ensure targeted education opportunities for all.
SPONSORSHIP & PRESS
I’m interested in learning more about how I can partner with Athlete Ally. Where can I learn more?
Please send us a note at summitinfo@athleteally.org. We’d love to connect!