Together, we go further! On Thursday, the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) and the Belgian Paralympic Committee (BPC) approved their future merger to form the Belgian Olympic & Paralympic Committee (COPB). from January 1, 2027Belgium will be the sixth country in the world to have a single Olympic and Paralympic organization, after the Netherlands, the United States, Norway, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
« We write 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 build a solid movement that places sporting excellence, inclusion and societal impact at the heart of its prioritiesI would like to thank the sports federations for their support and confidence in our renewed organization. »
« Our ambition promoting inclusion through the magic of sport today it takes on a new dimension. Through this merger, we hope to set an example for sports federations and society more generally., says 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. For Cédric Van Branteghem, CEO of the COIB, this decision " sends a strong signal: the federations believe in our ambition. We hope that it will inspire many sports organizations in Belgium, but also internationally., to reflect on how to bring athletes, sports and Olympic and Paralympic disciplines closer together. »
