As confirmed earlier, heptathlon queen Nafi Thiam will take part in the high jump competition. She will face the world's best jumpers, including the entire world championship podium and the top two from the Euros. But Thiam does not have to fear anyone. With her jump of 1m98 in the European championship's heptathlon she would have taken the high jump gold...
Most of the bronze (worlds) and silver (EC) Belgian Tornados will also take the start. Julien Watrin runs the 400 metres hurdles, the three Borlee brothers, Alexander Doom and Jonathan Sacoor take part in the 400 metres. The same goes for the Cheetahs: Laus, Couckuyt, Ponette, Vervaet and Hespel are set to run an extra 400 metre race. Cynthia Bolingo (finalist at the EC) will start in the regular 400 metres, which is part of the Diamond League programme.
Delphine Nkansa (100 metres) and Noor Vidts (long jump) are set for their Memorial debuts. Ben Broeders is hoping to survive as long as possible in the pole vault alongside phenom Mondo Duplantis and Anne Zagre (100 metre hurdles), Robin Vanderbemden (200 metres), Eliott Crestan (800 metres), Elise Vanderelst (1500 metres) and Robin Hendrix (5000 metres) are all taking part in a Diamond League discipline.
Opening ceremony to feature all Belgian medals
Every year the Allianz Memorial Van Damme traditionally bookends a busy summer of sports, which makes it the perfect occasion to honour all Belgian athletes from various other sports who excelled over the summer. Several Belgian medallists will join the opening ceremony to celebrate their success in the World Games, World Championships, European championships, Paralympic sports and Special Olympics.
They include Bart Swings, Hanne Desmet, Lotte Kopecky, Ewoud Vromant and other track cyclists, judokas Matthias Casse, Jorre Vestraeten and Mina Libeer, kayak stars Artuur Peters and Lize Broekx and squash player Tinne Gilles, alongside the golden acrobatic gymnasts, silver korfball players and bronze rope pullers from the World Games.
