The grand finale of Mr Gay Europe 2023 takes place Saturday, August 26 in the magnificent Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, and prior to the finale the delegates take part in several challenges and social events.
This year delegates from nine different countries made it to the Mr Gay Europe competition: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and Spain. The delegates have qualified for the event either through national finals or by applications and nominations.
Throughout the week the delegates will take part in different challenges and tasks such as personal interviews, a sports challenge, written exams, photo sessions and a team challenge.
The theme for Mr Gay Europe 2023 is mental health, and for their team challenge the delegates are asked to decide between them which theme the winner is to focus on in the year to come.
During the week the delegates will also take part in several seminars, on everything from human rights and mental health, to working with the media and even chocolate making. There will also be the ‘broomstick tutorial’! Alnwick Castle is, after all, the location for many of the scenes in the Harry Potter movies. The delegates will also visit South Shields Town Hall and meet local political leaders.
After arriving and getting settled in at Alnwick Castle on Sunday, August 20, the morning of Monday, August 21 kicked off with rehearsals for the grand finale on Saturday, August 26 and a physical workout session in the Alnwick Garden with personal trainer Simon Tate.
“Physical activity is one of many ways to take care of our mental health,” producer of this year’s competition, Stuart Hatton Jr, says.
“The workout session is not any of the challenges, we just wanted the guys to get moving a little, to get the blood pumping and take away a bit of the stress in connection with the competition.”
Mr Gay Europe has been organised since 2005 but was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid pandemic. In 2022 the competition was back, but starting softly with four finalists, and this year nine delegates have found their way to Alnwick Castle and Garden.
The titleholder is invited to use the Mr Gay Europe platform as a tool to reach out to the European LGBTQ+ community, to be a spokesperson and role model for those who still cannot speak up or come out.
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