King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received around 200 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches and referees at the Château de Laeken on Thursday.
They included marathon runner Bashir Abdi, silver medallist in Paris, taekwondo player Sarah Chaari, bronze medallist, Paralympic gold medallists, wheelchair sprinters Léa Bayekula and Maxime Carabin, and table tennis player Laurens Devos. Medallists from the European and World Championships were also invited.
Unfortunately, a number of athletes missed the reception. Cyclists Remco Evenepoel and Lotte Kopecky, and Olympic heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam were not available.
Heptathlete and Paris bronze medallist Noor Vidts was also unable to attend due to illness. The Belgian Cats, who finished fourth in the Olympic tournament in Paris, are playing a Euro 2025 qualifier against Lithuania in Antwerp this evening and were also absent. Laure Résimont, who is injured, was present on behalf of the team.
Paralympic dressage champion Michèle George was also absent.
The athletes present were able to have a brief chat with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, including boxer Victor Schelstraete. "It was very short, but I understand," he said. "The King has to address so many people here. He also can't remember who plays which sport. So I understand that he's acting a bit on autopilot. In any case, I'm very happy to have been able to be here.’
It was also a great honour for wheelchair sprinter Maxime Carabin: "The King is really interested in sport. He tries to keep up with all the latest sporting news," Carabin said. "For us, it's really recognition, proof that we count, that able-bodied and Paralympic athletes are on an equal footing. The fact that there is no difference is really perfect.
The Federal Minister for the Disabled, Karine Lalieux, was present, as were other ministers such as Jacqueline Galant, Sports Minister of the French Community.
