General information
One of the objectives of the BOIC is to select the Team Belgium athletes and to allow them to participate in the Olympic Games in optimal conditions in order to perform at their very best. In an increasingly competitive and professional sports context, the contribution from different areas of expertise is essential. These areas of expertise are united in the Team Belgium Experts. With this group of experts, the BOIC wants to give Team Belgium athletes an extra boost.
The team Belgium Experts are active in the field and involved in the elite sports program of the athletes and their coaches. They give advice on how to create the ideal conditions for the athlete to develop and perform as optimally as possible. Tailor-made support is offered during Team Belgium training camps and at the Olympic and European Games. Athletes and coaches can also call on one or more experts individually.
The Team Belgium Experts are active in and across six different scientific domains: medical expertise, psychological expertise, physiological expertise, nutrition expertise, biomechanics and technology and innovation. Each area of expertise is managed by a coordinator/responsible and has an intradisciplinary operation with its own network. This network is organized by the responsible person(s).
Representatives of Sport Vlaanderen and ADEPS ensure that the communities are represented in this expert group.
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Areas of expertise
The medical staff, together with the physiotherapists, is following up on the physical health of all Team Belgium athletes. Prof. Dr. Johan Bellemans and Prof. Dr. Jean-François Kaux are responsible for the coordination of the medical expertise.
The sports psychologists are responsible for the psychological aspects of the performance of athletes and their support staff, supporting them both in their personal development in this area and in their mental well-being. Prof. Dr. Paul Wylleman, expert in sports psychology, has the task of developing the system in this regard and takes on the role of welfare officer during missions. The Team Belgium Sports Psychology Network brings together sports psychologists and is managed by Els Snauwaert. More information about the Team Belgium Sports Pyschology Network can be found here.
In physiology, Team Belgium relies on Prof. Dr. Marc Francaux with expertise in exercise physiology and altitude training. This field of science provides the knowledge needed to optimally develop the body's energy systems for specific performances.
Nutrition is an important pillar for delivering top performance. Together with the athlete and the coach, our nutritionists look at nutrition that can improve sports performance or, for example, promote recovery from injuries. Stephanie Scheirlynck coordinates this group and examines the needs and questions of the athletes and their sports federations.
The field of biomechanics is being organized and will be available soon.
The field of technology and innovation is being organized and will be available soon.
These disciplines each have their own operations and projects (intradisciplinary work), but also work inter- and multidisciplinary in which the perspectives from different domains reinforce each other for optimal guidance of the athlete. In order for athletes and coaches to find their way to the Team Belgium Experts, the BOIC invites the experts to the Team Belgium training camps and competitions. They are closely involved in the performance programs financed through the communities and organised by the federations and leagues. The idea is that the expert comes to the athlete and the athlete does not necessarily have to go to the lab to meet the expert.
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