Page 35 - Olympism in Socialism

Merckx and Tom Boonen (cycling), Raymond
Ceulemans (three-cushion billiards), Jacky
Ickx and Thierry Boutsen (Formula One), Stefan
Everts and Gaston Rahier(motocross) and Jean-
Michel Saive (table tennis), Kim
Clijsters (tennis), Sven Nys (cyclo-cross)
and Vincent Rousseau (running). In team sports,
well-known footballers include Jean-Marie
Pfaff, Eric Gerets, Enzo Scifo, Michel
Preud'homme, Franky Van Der Elst, Luc
Nilis and Jan Ceulemans and well-known
basketball players include Ann Wauters, Éric
Struelens, Axel Hervelle and D. J. Mbenga.
Former International Olympic Committee
President Count Jacques Rogge is a Belgian.
As a sub-area of culture in Belgium, sport is
now considered to fall under the responsibility of
the 3 Belgian communities (the Dutch-speaking
Community, the French speaking community
and the German Speaking Community). With the
exception of football and field hockey, all other
major sport federations in Belgium are split into
2 major federations (a French-speaking
federation and a Dutch-speaking federation).

BELGIUM AT OLYMPICS
Belgium has competed at most editions of
the Olympic Games after making its first
appearance at the 1900 Games. The nation was
host to the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.
Belgian athletes have won 148 medals at
the Summer Olympic Games, and another six at
the Winter Olympic Games.
The National Olympic Committee for Belgium
was created and recognized in 1906.

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