Five countries have a single entity that fulfills the role of both a national Olympic committee and a national Paralympic committee: the Netherlands, the United States, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Soon there will be six: the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) and the Belgian Paralympic Committee (BPC) have approved their future merger to form the Belgian Olympic & Paralympic Committee (COPB) from January 1, 2027. A historic moment for Belgian sport.
"Pushing our limits together"
Why merge? The COIB and the BPC already collaborated closely, with a shared brand identity and joint training courses. This cooperation has already allowed us to make significant progress.explains Cédric Van Branteghem, CEO of the COIB, But at some point, it became necessary to make a decision about the future. That's the whole point of this merger, which sends a strong signal: the federations believe in our ambition. "Directly involved, the athletes were also..." closely associated with this process ».
« We are writing a new chapter in the history of Belgian sport, says Jean-Michel Saive, president of the COIB. This decision reflects our belief that this collaboration makes us stronger and allows us to push our limits together. By joining forces, we are building a robust movement that places sporting excellence, inclusion, and societal impact at the heart of its priorities. »
An initiative that will inspire others?
« Our ambition to promote inclusion through the magic of sport is taking on a new dimension today. Through this merger, we hope to set an example for sports federations and society at large., agrees Ellen Van Camp, president of the BPC. Whether or not they have a disability, every individual should be able to find their place and be valued for who they are. We look forward to shaping the future of Belgian sport together and hope this decision will inspire others. »
The merger will be implemented gradually. It will certainly take some time to finalize this merger from an operational point of view, but we are optimistic about the many opportunities it will open for the Belgian para-sports movement. “,” adds Olek Kazimirowski, Managing Director of BPC. In addition to the synergies that will benefit all parties, Cédric Van Branteghem hopes to inspire numerous sports organizations in Belgium, but also internationally and push them to consider how to bring athletes, sports, and Olympic and Paralympic disciplines closer together ».
