The COIB (Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee) and the athletes of Team Belgium are meeting in Belek in Türkiye this week for their annual training course. For a week, athletes and their coaches benefit from the 5-star facilities of the Gloria Sports Arena and XXL support (physiotherapists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, doctors, psychologists, sports performance experts) to train in a climate clearly softer than in Belgium. The objective is twofold: close the chapter of the Paris Games and open that of the next Olympics which will be organized in Los Angeles in the summer of 2028.
“The key words during this internship are sharing, team spirit and cohesion. underlines the president of the COIB, Jean-Michel Saive. “It’s a different focus and motivation than when we go for training just before the Games because here we are at the start of a new cycle. We feel a wind of lightness, the athletes want to spend moments together, to share, to try other disciplines with less pressure. It’s normal because Los Angeles is still far away.“.
The destination is far away and the road to get there will not be easy, so it is not too early to start in the eyes of the Director General of COIB, Cédric Van Branteghem. “There are still 4 years but 4 years in an Olympic life goes by very quickly and it is important to be well prepared. We first took the time to turn the page on Paris. It was magnificent but it’s is a bit like when you climb to the top of Everest… You have to take advantage of it, take a good look at the summit and then quickly go back down because there isn’t much oxygen up there. Now it’s already time to. prepare LA by planning through presentations and also prepare young people who are not yet Olympians.”
What are the key outcomes you aim to achieve through the annual training course in Belek for Team Belgium athletes?
1. Can you please share more about the significance of the annual training course in Belek for the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee and Team Belgium athletes?
2. How do you ensure that the athletes benefit from the 5-star facilities and support team during the training course?
3. Can you elaborate on the importance of the training course in fostering team spirit and cohesion among athletes and coaches?
4. As Belgium looks towards Los Angeles 2028, what are some of the challenges and opportunities you foresee for the national team?
5. What role does the annual training course play in preparing the team for future international competitions, including the Olympics?
6. How do you balance the need for rest and relaxation with the intense training regimen during the week-long course?
7. Can you provide some insights into the recent reviews and presentations conducted by the COIB to prepare for Los Angeles 2028?
8. What kind of initiatives are being implemented to identify and groom potential talented young athletes who could represent Belgium in future Olympics?
9. How important is it for the Belgian team to maintain a competitive edge against other nations in the build-up to major events like the Olympics?
10. As leaders of the COIB, how do you motivate the team and keep them focused on the long-term goal of success at Los Angeles 2028, while also taking into account the challenges and uncertainties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic?
