Photo: The Belgian Royal House
The royal couple honoured 70 top Belgian athletes
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received 70 of Belgium's leading athletes at the Castle of Laeken. Olympic and Paralympic athletes stood side by side on the staircase.
On Tuesday, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received around 70 Belgian athletes at the Castle of Laeken, together with their coaches and team managers. The reception is an annual tribute to those who have distinguished themselves internationally.
The criteria are clear: to be invited, an athlete must have won a medal at a European or World Championship in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline in the past two years, or have delivered an exceptional performance at world level.
Everyone on the same staircase
In the group photograph, Olympic and Paralympic athletes stand among one another, several of them in wheelchairs in the front row. That was no accident, and it was noticed.
"I think inclusion is very important for adapted sport. The fact that everyone is on an equal footing sends a very positive signal outward", said Tim Celen, world champion in Paralympic cycling.
A queen who follows along
Among the guests were the Red Panthers, the Belgian women's national hockey team, who took bronze at the World Cup on home soil in late August.
Player Stephanie Vanden Borre said afterwards that Queen Mathilde was well informed about how it had gone. "She told us how she experienced that moment, and said she truly felt sadness after the defeat. It is very nice to see that she follows us closely", Vanden Borre said.
The Queen was also interested in how the athletes manage to combine elite sport with studying. "She was surprised that nearly all the Red Panthers are studying alongside. She thought it was wonderful that they manage to get such good results anyway", Vanden Borre said.
Recognition for the years behind it
Jean-Michel Saive, president of the Belgian Olympic Committee, described the gathering as a form of recognition all of its own, for the many years of effort, sacrifice, perseverance and passion behind every single achievement.
The Castle of Laeken in the north of Brussels is the royal family's home. The palace used for official functions is in the city centre, at the Place des Palais, but receptions of this kind are often held at Laeken.