New Belgian Championships indoor athletic students
After a five year interval, a Belgian University Indoor Athletics Championship is held in the Flanders Sports Arena on Saturday 18
March 2006.
This event will take place is a co-operation between BUSF and NSAF-ZEUS. At the same time, a Dutch championship for students will
take place. The Ghent athletics club STAX will deal with the practical realisation of the event and of course separate rankings
are foreseen for the Belgian and Dutch students. After the competition, the participants are offered a dinner, followed by a
party.
13/12/05
Georges Leekens accepts godparenthood of "Flanders Soccer Cup"
On Sunday 8 January 2006, the third edition of the Flanders Soccer Cup takes place in the Flanders Sports Arena. Six teams participate,
three of them clubs from East-Flanders, being AA Gent, SK Beveren and Zulte-Waregem. The first class clubs Roeselare and Cercle Brugge
and the second class club KV Mechelen participate as well. AA Gent-trainer Georges Leekens agreed to take on the godparenthood of
the organisation. The artificial turf that is being installed in the Flanders Sports Arena will be used already for competitions from
January 3 onwards. Tournaments for youth, women and clubs playing in lower categories are scheduled.
06/12/05
Brochure sports management trainings 2006 is out!
Do you wish to become a trainer? Would you like to have an official trainers’ degree? If you are 16 and older, you can follow a
specialised training course at the Flamish Trainers School (Bloso). The new brochure with the different courses for 2006 is now
available!
Kim Gevaert already selected for WC indoor and EC outdoor
Kim Gevaert doesn't need to worry any more about not obtaining the minima for the coming WC indoor and EC outdoor. The Athletics League
has already selected the sprinter. Highjumper Tia Hellebaut and pole-vaulter Kevin Rans are thanks to their results in 2005 already
sure of their selection for the EC.
23/11/05
New website "Fieldturf Tarkett Flanders Soccer Cup" life
This week the new website of the Fieldturf Tarkett Flanders Soccer Cup is put online. For the third year in a row Action sports
organises an indoor football tournament during the yearly winter stop in the Flanders Sports Arena. After the takeover by the
Canadian/American firm Fieldturf, the main partner of last year changed its name. From now on, the world leader in the field of
artificial grass is called "Fieldturf Tarkett".
22/11/05
Official opening "Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx"
The weekend of 17-19 February 2006 the velodrome of the Blaarmeersen will be renamed "Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy
Merckx" (Flemish Cycling Centre Eddy Merckx). The cycling track was created in 1988 as a prerequisite to hold the world championship cycling on the
road. The major novelty is the covering of the track. From now on, ball sports can be practiced in the centre court. In the weekend of
the festivities, on Friday evening the official opening takes place and on Saturday and Sunday the Belgian Championships cycling on the
road are being held. On Sunday, the recreative tour Ghent-Lokeren is planned.
18/11/05
Belgium wins two golden medals at the WC Aerobics in Moskou
At the World championship for youth in Moskou, our fellow-countrymen won gold in both the categories Fitness Aerobics Cadets (the Funky Pumpkins) and
Juniors (JSDP). In the category Sports Aerobics the Junior trio Fysiofit from Sint Niklaas finished fifth. Lisa Van Brande finished
sixth and Jente Bonnarens finished eleventh with the lady cadets solo.
14/11/05
Aagje Vanwalleghem nominated for Sports Woman of the Year
Every year, the Belgian League of Professional Sports Journalists organises the election of Sports Man and Woman of the year. On November 13 the
list of the nominees for Sports Man and Woman of the year was released. The list contains some outstanding names such as Aagje
Vanwalleghem. Besides a Sports Man and Woman, prizes are granted to the most promising young Man and Woman and Team of the Year. The
decision will be taken on December 18 during a gala dinner in the Casino of Oostende. Last year Aagje got the trophy of Promise of the
year. This year she is competing for the trophy of Sports Woman of the Year, together with among others Kim Clijsters, Kim Gevaert,
Justine Henin-Hardenne and Ann Wauters. Among the men, Tom Boonen is the absolute favourite, but maybe Rutger Beke, Stefan Everts,
Vincent Kompany, Sven Nys or another nominee will give us all a big surprise.
08/11/05
Megagym for Schools
At Megagym for Schools, an organisation of the Gymnastics federation of Flanders, the Federation wants to give 1st year
students the opportunity to get acquainted with the different gymnastic disciplines in a pleasant way. The happening takes place
in a unique setting (top gymnastics hall, Flanders Sports Arena and the Bloso sports centre in Ghent) from 4 to 5 May 2006. The entrance
fee is only 1 Euro per student.
579 students receive the elite sports statute
As many as 579 young sports men from Flemish secundary schools received their official elite sports statute from the Flemish Minister
responsible for Sports Bert Anciaux and Mister Schelstraete, representative of the Flemish Minister for Education, Frank
VandenBroucke, in the Flanders Sports Arena. The Minister called them the "future elite sports idols". 579 elite sports
students is quite an approvement in comparance with the start of the elite sports schools, in the year 1998-1999, when there
enrolled no more than 201 pupils. This year, sixteen sports disciplines are offered in 6 different schools.
21/10/05
Much interest in 'Partena Cup of Flanders'
The 'Partena Cup of Flanders', the elite sports event in trampoline, double mini trampoline and tumbling that takes place next year from 28 to 30
April 2006 in the Flanders Sports Arena, is given the status of World Cup for the first time. This uprating has an influence in
the number of entries, as gymnasts from New-Zealand, America, Australia and Qatar already enrolled.
18/10/05
Ghent's triathlon club one year old, young people wanted
This week Mr.T.'s Triathlon club Ghent gets to blow its first candle. The club can look back at a very successful season. "When we
started four years ago with the organisation of our competition, it was not our intention to start a club", says chairman Wim
Van de Putte, "but every year a great number of participants asked if we could also coach them. It seemed that there was great
need for a triathlon club in the the area of Ghent. In September last year we finally decided to start with an own well
thought-out club. The only thing we still lack are young people between 12-15. At this moment, the club has 50 members, of which
only two young, but that is too few to form a separate group. At the moment they train with the grown-ups but their training
programme is adapted. Triathlon is not an evident sport, is it?
12/10/05
Number of Elite Sports Schools reduced
The Flemish Minister of Education Vandenbroucke and the Flemish Minister responsible for Sport Anciaux decided to bring back the number of Elite Sports
Schools from 8 to 6 within a period of 1 or 2 years. In reality this means that the schools in Mortsel and Genk will be merged
with the schools of Antwerp and Hasselt. In doing so, six elite sports school locations will remain: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp,
Leuven, Hasselt and Brussels. After another transitional period of about two years, this amount will equally be reduced to one
lacation. Ghent and Antwerp have shown their interest to host the only elite sports school more than once. Minister Vandenbroucke
and Minister Anciaux will communicate their choice in due time.
Ghent candidate for elite sports school
The City of Ghent is candidate to host the Flanders Elite Sports School. “Thanks to close collaboration with the university and
Bloso we have a compelling file” says alderman of education Rudy Coddens. At this moment, there are eight Elite sports schools
in Flanders, with a number of disciplines instructed in each school. Flemish Minister for Sport Bert Anciaux and Flemish Elite
Sports Manager Ivo Van Aken want to centralise all disciplines in one place. Rudy Coddens: “The sports facilities available
here are of top quality. We have the Sports Arena, the top sports gymnastics hall, a Flemish Cycling Centre is being built,
there is a water sports track and an olympic swimming pool near by... To this you can add the possibilities of collaboration
with the university and Bloso. For example, to accommodate the students, the Bloso Elite Sports Hotel can be extended with 250
rooms. Coddens acknowledges that more investments are needed to bring the Elite Sports School to Ghent. “But just because we
already have highly qualified facilities, the plan is more than realistic. I am sure we make a good chance.”
T. Triathlon
Via this link the results of over 600 participants at the 4th Mr. T. Triathlon can be viewed. Gella Vandecavaeye for example finished
12th with the ladies and takes the 54th place in the total list. She finished after 1 hour, 17 minutes and 26 seconds.
New world record crowd swimming
During the direct radio broadcast of the Studio Brussel's Music Games a new world record crowd swimming was set in the Flanders
Sports Arena. After the competition guitar throwing and the election of Miss Spandex, Peter Van de Veire, host and anchor man of the
daily Big Peter Van de Veire show was literally carried by his listeners. The world record was set at 14 minutes and 17 seconds
by the bailiff present. Admiral Freebee, one of the life acts, promised to have a go at the record in the near future. We keep you
informed.
24/05/05
Reconstruction of the practice ring in the Flanders Sports Arena
This month, part of the practice ring underneath the grandstand of the Flanders Sports Arena will be reconstructed. The non profit
making organisation Flanders Sports Arena put aside 25,000 euro to restore the practice ring that had become damaged by intensive use.
16/05/05
Trampoline
The World Cup Competition Cup of Flanders 2006 aims at the absolute world top. In 2006, for the first time, the Cup of Flanders will be
a world cup competition. This top competition in trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling will be held from 28 to 30 April in the
Flanders Sports Arena. The organising club Sterk en Lenig (Strong and supple) from Drongen has made an agreement with the
Frivolten Cup in Sweden to promote both competitions in far away countries such as USA, China and Australia. That way both organisers
aim at the absolute world top.
07/05/05
West Flanders wins the world title Funk
At the World Championship Aerobics in Ghent, Stef Ferrest's JSDP-team took the World title in the discipline funk. The team from
Zonnebeke defeated a Danish and French team in the finals. The Czech Republic took the largest piece of the cake with four world titles,
one in step, aerobics, men individual and men in team. The two remaining world titles for women individual and in pair went to
Finland and France.
Study assignment for the building of a new trampoline and rhythmics hall
The official invitation for tendering for an integral study assignment for the building of a new trampoline and rhythmics hall
in the Bloso centre in Ghent has been launched. The new hall will be connected to the Flanders Sports Arena and the Top Gymnastics hall
and will have a surface of 40 (or 47) to 25 meters. It has room for 6 (or 8) big trampolines and 1 floor for rhythmic/acrobatic
gymnastics. Provisions are foreseen in the roof for the instalment of safety belts. On the 1st of June de tendering offers are opened
and the job will be assigned
Kathleen De Caluwé is East-Flemish Athlete of the Year
In the Flanders Sports Arena in Ghent, Kathleen De Caluwé was honoured as East-Flemish athlete of the year 2004. Kathleen De
Caluwé ran the finals at the 4x100 meter at the Olympic Games. Other nominees were Olympic Champion table tennis Nico Vergeylen and
Belgian and European Promising champion duatlon athlete Miek Vynkce. The Trophy for Sports Achievement was given to former cyclist
Etienne De Wilde. The other nominees for this trophy were gymnast jury member Rita de Leenheer and speaker Jos Verleysen.
15/03/05
The new cafetaria of the Bloso-centre in Ghent opens
Tuesday 15 March the new cafetaria of the Bloso Centre in Ghent was officially opened after some delay. Tim Quintyn is the new manager
and he hopes to turn the cafetaria once more into a meeting place for young and sporting Ghent. A brand new modern interior, with a
large flat screen television, wireless internet, a soccer-table and a number of games, combined with a quick and friendly service are
the plusses. See you at the bar!
07/03/05
International elite jockeys come to Ghent
From 20 to 23 October 2005, for the first time the "Flanders Indoor Jumping" will be organised in the Flanders Sports Arena.
It is going to be a four-star jumping, wich implies that the Belgian and international top will be present. Organisor Filip Van Laethem
wants the jumping event of Ghent to become the third biggest jumping event of Belgium, after the jumpings of Mechelen and Brussels. In
the center court a track of 85 to 45 meter will be filled with sand. Outside the Sports Arena, tents will be built that cover a total
surface of 10,000 square meters.
06/03/05
Masters world record for Riet Jonkers
A last test game on the 5th of March in the Flanders Sports Arena in preparation to the Indoor European Championships in Eskilstuna
(Sweden) resulted in a world record for Riet Jonckers (V60). The athlete from Attila Tilburg ran the 400 meter in 1'10"15 and in
doing so she improved the world record of the American Capetta from 1996 with 54 hundreds.
06/03/05
Belgian Record Pole Vaulting Pupils Women
During the Belgian Championship Pupils and Cadets Indoor, Gaëlle LETERME (CABW) improved her own Belgian record pole vaulting in the
category Pupils Women with 1 cm. She jumped 3m71. On January 29, 2005 she already jumped 3m70 in the Flanders Sports Arena.
03/03/05
Gordel voor Scholen 2005
The 10th edition of the Gordel voor Scholen (Loop for Schools) is approaching! 20, 21, 23, 24 and 28 June, Tervuren and
Overijse will be completely immerged by the Loop for Schools. This year it will be a very special Loop for Schools, because it is a
anniversary edition. For this 10th edition, special tracks were worked out. Schools that have not enroled yet, can better do so!
More information on the 10th edition of the Loop for Schools, the leaflet and the subscription form.
01/03/05
22,441 young people have already participated in the athletics initiation that is
organised by Bloso in the Flanders Sports Arena in co-operation with the SVS (Foundation School Sport) Department of East-Flanders and
Vlabus. The initiation is meant for elementary school 3rd graders.
School year
Number of schools
Number of participants
2000-2001
72
4.359
2001-2002
81
4.487
2002-2003
102
5.332
2003-2004
99
4.799
2004-2005
87
3.464
The fall-back since 2003-2004 is due to the growing number of large events that take place in the Sports Arena, so that the number
of available days between the Autumn and Spring Holidays is reduced.
5 years Flanders Sports Arena
5 years ago, the Flanders Sports Arena was used for the first time for a big international event. On the 25th of Februar 2000 the 26th
European Championship Athletics Indoor was held in the Flanders Sports Arena. 1779 athletes from all European countries competed for
the 25 medals in the various disciplines. The Belgian indoor record of Patrick Stevens at the 200 meter, ran in 20''66 at the first
night of the opening of the arena, still stands. 7 of the 18 stadium records were set at this memorable meeting in the men categories and
8 of the fourteen actual stadium records in the women categories.
24/02/05
Further increase in the occupation of the Flanders Sports Arena in 2005
The occupation of the Flanders Sports Arena has increased again in 2005. The prognoses for 2005 are very promising with among others a
World Cup Gymnastics, a World Championship Fitness and Aerobics, a jumping and an international tennis tournament.
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Daily sports practitioners
11.520
15.084
20.809
23.777
31.286
Athletes at events
16.296
14.349
19.098
24.206
34.212
Audience
56.500
99.425*
31.934
31.792
47.450
Number of events
34
55
46
81
93
* = includes WC gymnastics with 43.000 spectators
21/02/05
Kevin Rans Belgian number eight for the EC indoor
Kevin Rans is the eighth Belgian athlete who qualified for the European Indoor Championship. At the Belgian Championship in the
Flanders Sports Arena in Ghent, he jumped 5,62 meter. Kim Gevaert defends her title at the EC in the 60 meter and Sandra Stals (800m),
Nathan Bongelo (60m), Joeri Jansen (1500m), Tim Clerbout (1500m), Veerle Dejaeghere (3000m) and Michael Velter (triple jump) will be
also take part. Tia Hellebaut is also sure of her selection, but needs to be invited for the pentathlon by the European Athletics
League. Erik Wymeersch was unlucky again: he ran the 60 meter within the required minimum time, but his score was corrected later, so
that for the second time this year, he came one hundred of a second short. Wymeersch did not hide his disappointment afterwards.
21/02/05
Wim Blondeel does better still
For the second time in 8 days, Wim Blondeel improved his national record shot put at the Belgian Indoor Championship. Last Saturday
the athlete from East Flanders put 18m48 and today he added 39 cm: 18m87 is the new Belgian record.
13/02/05
Wim Blondeel improves Belgian record short put indoor
Wim Blondeel improved his own Belgian record shot put indoor in the Ghent Sports Arena. The athlete of KAA Ghent put 18m48, which is 13
centimetres better than 4 years ago.
13/02/05
Four Belgian records during the indoor meeting in Ghent
At the indoor athletics meeting in the Flanders Sports Arena in Ghent last Saturday, no less than four records were broken. In the
category pupils Women, Laura Lemmennens (OEH) braught the record of the 1000m at 2'48"80, and in the category Juniors Men, Matti
Feyaerts ran a new best time in 2'27"56. Wim Blondeel (KAAG) braught the Belgian record shot put at 18m48 and Linda Bonduelle
(FLAC) managed to bring the Belgian record of the women masters high jump at 1m36.
06/02/05
Indoor Ghent is top meeting for Belgian athletes
At the Flanders Indoor meeting in the Flanders Sports Arena in Ghent, the Belgian athletes displayed their talents. Joeri Jansen
celebrated his debut at the 1500 meter with a first place and a ticket for the EC in Madrid at the beginning of March. Tim Clerbout
came in third and he is also selected for the European Championships in Spain. Veerle Dejaeghere came in 5 seconds below the limit at the
3000 meter and Sandra Stals reached the EC limit at the 800 meter. Eric Wijmeersch, unfortunately came just one hundred of a second
short in the 60 meter and two hundreds of a second short in the finals. He finished seventh. Kim Gevaert proved she is in good
shape. The Belgian sports personality of the year won her heath and ended second in the finals after Christine Arron. Beside that, there
were 3 best world year results.
06/02/05
Two records broken at the Flanders Indoor
During the KBC Flanders Indoor, Grand Prix East Flanders, two records were broken. The French record at the 60m sprint was braught
at 6"51 by Ronald Pognon. Daniel Kipchirchir Komen from Kenia ran a new stadium record at the 1500m. He ran the 1500m in
3'35"61.
02/02/05
SVS - Athletics festival
For the fifth time already, the Foundation Flemish School Sport (SVS) in co-operation with the Flemish
Athletics League, organises the Athletics Festival. The festival takes place in the Flanders Sports Arena on Friday 11 March 2005 and
is intended for pupils of the fourth, fifth and sixth grade of elementary education.
Belgacom Hotspot via "Wireless Lan" in the Flanders Sports Arena
Since February, the Flanders Sports Arena is equipped with wireless internet. Customers of Belgacom ADSL GO or PLUS have 100% free
access. Non-customers can buy access cards (1 hour = 10 euro, 24 hours = 20 euro and 5 days = 50 euro) at the income of the Bloso
Centre.
29/01/05
Belgian record pole vaulting pupils Women
Gaëlle LETERME improved the Belgian record Pole vaulting in the category Pupils women during the LBFA championship. She jumped 3m70,
14 cm better than the former record of Liesbet VAN ROIE (AVZK - 1998).
29/01/05
Belgian record triple jump
Michael Velter (AC Dampicourt) improved the Belgian record triple jump in the Flanders Sports Arena. Velter jumped 16m90 at the
Walloon indoor championships. This was 4 cm better than his former record in open air, which he shared with Didier Falise and 28 cm
better than the indoor record of Djeke Mambo.
23/01/05
5 5 Belgian records on the mile
At the Arteveldemeeting of Racing Ghent, the "Mile" was programmed for the first time. This resulted in no less than 5
national records: Yves Logist (AC Pajottenland) ran a record in the category Seniors Men in 5'06.69, Mike Van Langeraert (ASV
0udenaarde) ran a record in the category Juniors Men in 5'09.07, Karlien Van Cauwelaert (Dilbeek AC) ran a record with the ladies in
5'46.78, Marie-Jeanne Lefevbre (ASSA Ronse) ran with the Juniors Ladies in 5'48.16 and finally, Linda Troyekens (Eendracht Aalst) ran
a new record time with the Veterans ladies in 5'53.51.
19/01/05
Heavy opposition for the Belgians
At the 16th edition of the Flanders Indoor of 06.02.2005, the best of the Belgian athletes will have a go for a ticket for the EC in
Madrid. Main public instigator is Kim Gevaert, the Sports Personality of 2004 and current European Indoor Champion at the 60
meter. In her favourite discipline, she will have to compete against a.o. the French Sylviane Felix, the Ghanese Vida Anim, de British
girls Maduaka and Kwayke and the Finnish Manninen. Veerle Dejaeghere competes in the 3000 meter against the Polish Chojecka, the Spanish
Fuentes-Pila and the Portuguese girls Saceamento and Bastos. Tia Hellebaut competes in the high jump against the Spanish duo Mendia
and Beita, the British Jones, the German Herrmann and the Jamaican Beautle. In the male competition, all eyes rest on Joeri Jansen, who
runs the 1500 meter for the first time. With competitors such as Parra, Redolat and Fernandez from Spain, Kipchirchir and Yiampoy
from Kenya and Stouti from Marokko, It will be quite a challenge for Jansen.
17/01/05
Kim Gevaert is "sports personality of the year"
In Brussels, Kim Gevaert was granted the title "sports personality of the year ". The Belgian sprinter was 28 points
ahead of the other nominees: Robert Van De Walle (16), Tom Boonen (13), Eric Gerets (9) and Axel Merckx (6). Aagje Vanwalleghem was
given the title of "most promising youngster". Brigitte Becue and Gella Vandecaveye were given a trophy for their brilliant
career. Kim, Aagje and Gella are old acquaintances of the Flanders Sports Arena.
08/01/05
Flanders Indoor Ghent: Golden Spikes public instigators
Kim Gevaert and Joeri Jansen, the "Golden Spikes" 2004, are the national public instigators at the Flanders Indoor Ghent of
Sunday 6 February. Kim Gevaert runs the 60 meter, in which she holds the title of European Champion and vice world champion. The 1500
meter indoor is the start of a new career for Joeri Jansen. He leaves the 800 meter behind to focus on the 1500 meter from now on.
Running the EC-minimum (3.42) is his first objective. The EC indoor takes place from 4 to 6 March in Madrid.
