By Gary Anderson

The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee has bestowed a number of awards on officials and athletes in Brussels ©COIBFormer International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge attended a special awards ceremony which saw the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy bestowed on Guido De Bondt and Piet Moons for services to the Olympic Movement in Belgium.

Belgian athletes who competed at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games and the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games were also recognised at a meeting of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (COIB) in Brussels.

The Pierre de Coubertin Trophy, named after the Frenchman who is the founder of the modern Olympics, recognises those who have provided outstanding service to the Movement.

During his 31-year career, Moons, 66, has served as the secretary general of the COIB and is currently chairman of the Belgian Sports Technology Club.

De Bondt, 65, spent 22 years as COIB secretary general and is still active within the European Olympic Committees as a member of the Baku 2015 European Games Coordination Commission as a senior Games advisor.

He was instrumental in launching the European Youth Olympic Festival and making it a major continental sports event, while he was also involved with the Youth Olympic Games for the IOC.

Earlier this year, Du Bondt received the IOC Olympic Order in a career spanning 38 years.

Figure skater Jorik Hendrickx was one of seven Belgian athletes at Sochi 2014 to be honoured by the COIB ©Getty ImagesFigure skater Jorik Hendrickx was one of seven Belgian athletes at Sochi 2014 to be honoured by the COIB ©Getty Images




In addition, the seven Belgian athletes that competed at Sochi 2014 were given the official signia of the Olympic Games.

Belgium did not win a medal in Russia but Hanna Mariën, Elfje Willemsen, Jorik Hendrickx, Katrien Aerts, Seppe Smits, Bart Swings and Jelena Peeters were recognised for their efforts.

In Nanjing, Belgium won six medals and those athletes received a special diploma in Brussels.

Indra Craen and Luka van den Keybus won silver in taekwondo and gymnastics respectively while there was also taekwondo bronze for Mohamed Ketbi and Laura Roebben.

Jorre Verstraeten took judo bronze while Chloë Beaucarne came third in the girls' 100 metres hurdles.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
July 2014: Former IOC President Rogge praises Belgian colleague awarded with Olympic Order