On Thursday 21 October, Minister of Sport Ben Weyts will present the four Flemish Sports Awards in Ghent. Cast your vote now and decide for yourself who will win the prize for the Warmest Sports Initiative, who will be the Top Sports Amplifier and the Top Sports Coach of the Year. And above all: whoever gets the Flemish Sports Jewel for the best top sport performance of 2021.
Flemish Sports Jewel
It Flemish Sports Jewel can only be given once to the same person, organization
or team are awarded. Olympic champion Nina Derwael already won prizes in 2018. That only slightly alleviated the jury’s assignment, because in 2021 many Flemish athletes recorded top performances. Nevertheless, the jury members managed to come up with a list of three nominees.
- Red Lions
The national team in men’s hockey is always there at the big moments. That became abundantly clear this year: in the build-up to the Olympic Games, they still had to content themselves with a third place at the European Championships, in order to steam through to the much coveted Olympic gold in Tokyo. - Matthias Casse
Our absolute world champion in the judo category up to 81 kg won medals in all colors this year. Silver at the European Championships in Lisbon, gold (and therefore the world title) at the World Championships in Budapest and bronze at the Olympic Games.
His achievements also took him to the top spot in the world rankings. - Wout van Aert
Gent-Wevelgem, Amstel Gold Race, the Belgian road championship, three Tour stages (Mont Ventoux! Time trial! Champs Elysées!), silver in the Olympic road race, silver in the World Cup time trial. And then we don’t even consider cyclo-cross. Wout van Aert: omnivore on two wheels.
Top sports coach of the year
Who propelled his or her athletes to great achievements in 2021 and will become the Top sports coach of the year? Meet this internationally oriented trio of nominees.
- Fernando Oliva
The Argentine coach of all-around star Noor Vidts, who performed above all expectations this year with two high-profile results: silver in the pentathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Torun and an astonishing fourth place in the heptathlon at the Tokyo Olympics. - Marjorie Heuls
The French head coach of the Belgian women’s artistic gymnastics team, which excelled at the Tokyo Games. Nina Derwael won a gold medal on the bridge and a sixth place in the all-round final. The women’s quartet also qualified for the team final. - Shane McLeod
New Zealander Shane McLeod led the Belgian men’s hockey team to a historic gold medal at the Olympics. With his human approach, master motivator McLeod invariably succeeds in pushing his players to peak performance at the right time.
Top sports amplifier of the year
Success in top sport does not happen by itself. What’s more: top performances are not only the result of the sacrifices of athletes and their coaches, but also of those who – often behind the scenes – do their best to create an ideal top sports climate. These three professionals have a chance to win the first Flemish Sports Prize for Top sports amplifier of the year:
- Eddy De Smedt
Until 2018, Eddy De Smedt was active within the BOIC for 33 years, the last 22 of which as director of top sport. He is known for his honest approach and his conciliatory action: the right profile in our Belgian structures to make things happen. He still makes a difference today as an advisor or chairman of various bodies in the Belgian top sport landscape. - Johan Bellemans
Prof. dr. dr. Johan Bellemans is an orthopedic surgeon and led the medical staff of Team Belgium during the Olympic Games in Japan. He helped set out the guidelines for the framework and guidance of top athletes during the corona pandemic. Thanks to his contribution to the athlete tracking system Panega, Flemish top athletes can now enjoy even better medical follow-up. - Steven Van Beylen
With Steven as coordinator of top sport policy at the Parantee-Psylos federation, the integrated G top sport operation has really taken off.
His continued commitment to regard G-sport as a full-fledged sport and to approach it professionally has contributed to the high level at which
the G-top sport operation functions today. The results at Paralympics, World Championships and European Championships are the best proof of this.
Hottest Sports Initiative
The Sports Prize for the Hottest Sports Initiative rewards an initiative that sets people in motion and at the same time brings them together, helps socially or strengthens the social fabric in the neighbourhood.
- Second Serve – Tongeren
The Tongeren sports department has been running a webshop with free sports clothing and shoes for young people from socially vulnerable families. Second Serve has already sold more than 2000 sports articles. And even better: thanks to the initiative, more than 100 children from the target group were able to join a Tongeren sports club. - Sportaround – Gent
social giving vulnerable children more opportunities for integration and development through sport, that is the goal of the non-profit organization Sportaround. Co-founder Bashir Abdi serves as a shining example. Sportaround offers a range of free or affordable sports activities throughout Ghent.
For example, various neighborhood activities have been set up and children in more than 50 primary schools can make use of the after-school sports offer. - Sports buddies – Halle
As part of the Warmste Week 2020, the sports service of Halle and its inhabitants set up a sports buddy operation for fellow citizens from disadvantaged groups. For example, duos were formed to exercise together on a regular basis. A total of 20 volunteers were linked to people who needed social contact, some positive energy and/or a chance to practice Dutch.
