The Team Belgium Base Camp was officially opened today in the Topsporthal in Ghent. The Belgian Olympians can go there to prepare themselves for the final straight line to the Games. The opening ceremony will be in Paris on 26 July.
The concept of the Team Belgium Base Camp was already unveiled in November 2022 by the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) and the Ministers of Sport.
The existing top sports infrastructure of the communities is of Olympic standard and forms the basis, the athletes can prepare there in optimal conditions.
The top sports partners take into account the wishes and expectations of the athletes and their entourage.
Team Belgium Base Camp does not only have Ghent as its base. Gymnasts and weightlifter Nina Sterckx kicked things off there today.
6 locations
Antwerp is the meeting place for sports such as swimming, badminton, kayak sprint, rowing and hockey. Top sports infrastructure is used, among others, by the Olympic swimming centre Wezenberg, the Topsportschool in Wilrijk, the Sport Vlaanderen domain Willebroek (Hazewinkel) and the Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Pleinen.
The Louvain-la-Neuve/Brussels cluster welcomes athletes from athletics, taekwondo, tennis and judo, for example in the athletics hall of the “Centre Sportif de Blocry” in Louvain-la-Neuve.
The Sport Vlaanderen Heusden-Zolder Velodroom Limburg, together with Hasselt, forms the base for cycling (track and BMX).
Kortrijk is traditionally the home base of the Belgian Cats. And finally, there is Marseille, where the Belgian sailors can optimally prepare for the Olympic water.
We expect that around 100 athletes, just under two-thirds of our Olympians, will use the Team Belgium Base Camp for at least part of their preparation.
Head of Mission Olav Spahl
Top sports director and Chef de Mission of Team Belgium Olav Spahl outlines the advantages of the Base Camp. “Many athletes opt for a varied program in these last weeks. The Team Belgium Base Camp is at their disposal.”
“Our flexibility best meets the often individualized trajectories of the athletes.”
“We expect that around 100 athletes, just under two-thirds of all Olympians, will use the TBBC for at least part of their preparation.”
The Base Camp will be complemented by a Team Belgium “Get Together”: on Wednesday 10 July, athletes and delegation members can meet each other in the Atomium.
The first athletes will travel to Paris from 19 July. From Brussels-South with the Eurostar to Paris is a popular route.
Bert and Bavo go to the Olympics
Bavo and Bert prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris with Belgian top athletes. Together they get to know the athlete and his or her discipline. Blood, sweat and tears guaranteed.
13 episodes
watch on VRT Max
2024-07-02 14:36:24
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