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Last weekend, ENGIE and the Allianz Memorial Van Damme brought together 150 children and their parents for a special afternoon of sport. The young people and adults who took part came from very diverse backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: they are currently in a vulnerable situation.
Under the watchful eye of professional coaches, the participants were able to try out various athletics disciplines in a welcoming atmosphere: sprinting, long jump, hurdling, javelin and ball throwing.
The highlight of the afternoon? A 4x200m relay race, whilst being cheered on by Kim Gevaert, Olympic Champion and Meeting Director of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, and Belgian Cheetah Liefde Schoemaker. Julien Watrin and Camille Laus also shared their experiences as top athletes during the ENGIE Kids Athletics.
The event was also supported by Hope, a non-profit organisation fighting against poverty, bullying and social isolation.
Vincent Verbeke, CEO of ENGIE Belgium: “An event like ENGIE Kids Athletics shows us how curious and eager to learn children are… Once they are given the tools to succeed, they can jump higher and further, under the proud gaze of their parents or coaches and the encouragement of their peers. At ENGIE, we strongly believe in the power of sport. We are delighted to have been able to offer this boost of oxygen to these children and their families, who do not often have the opportunity to practise sports under the guidance of professional coaches in such an iconic location as the King Baudouin Stadium.”