3 minute read
2011-2020
Another milestone in our history
Principal Sue Woodroofe 2011 - 2016
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Principal Melanie Warnes 2016 - current
2015 - Cavell House officially opened
by British Ambassador Alison Rose 2016 - Jacques Rogge Sports Centre officially opened by Mr Jacques Rogge 2018 - Brel Theatre refurbishment
Numbers on Roll (NOR) 2011 - 1,158 students 2012 - 1,189 2016 - 1,313 2019 - 1,352
Special Olympics Belgium: a unique partnership of 29 years
In 2015 Tapestry interviewed Eddy Beckers, National Games Director of Special Olympics Belgium (SOB). This is an edited and updated version of that interview.
Talking to Eddy Beckers you are immediately struck by his passion and ambition for his athletes, their families and some 3,500 volunteers. “SOB exists because of our volunteers,” he recounts, “They really bring SOB to life.” Reflecting further he adds, “This is exactly what I also discover at BSB when the students organise that great yearly inclusive and unified Swim Gala.”
29 years of collaboration
Over these 29 years it has become clear that both organisations have similar values – social integration, awareness and respect. “BSB students are actively involved in SOB and gain awareness of people in society. Everyone has a strength and it’s important for young people to learn this; our athletes are not so different despite their disability.” Eddy says. “Playing ‘Unified Sports’ (people with and without intellectual disability (ID) playing sports together), we can learn from each other and grow as humans who believe and care for each other.”
“We are all different and we all have different strengths and abilities.” he says, “The mix of our volunteers is diverse, including sport coaches, CEOs, the families of the athletes, students and their parents from international schools. When they all get together to support an event, something very special happens. They are unified, they integrate, they believe in the same values as we do; that of fair play and respect. I’m very touched by that.”
Everyone engaged, everyone a winner
BSB signed a charter with the SOB to promote these shared values. “A highlight for me was watching the BSB and SOB gymnasts perform together and participating in the BSB Charity Ball. To see the engagement of the whole school was very precious.”
In 2014, BSB sponsored 21 athletes in the European Games. The Belgian delegation won 90 Gold medals, 88 Silver and 102 bronze. But, Eddy is quick to add, “everyone is a winner as our rules differ to other sports where athletes don’t have a disadvantage.” In the Special Olympics’ rules there are different levels of participating (and winning) based on age, gender, and the level of skill acquired, so that it’s equal and fair. “It’s not about winning, it’s about bringing people together, disadvantaged or not, and friendship.”
“We have to bring the Special Olympics to the people, not the other way around.” Through different media campaigns we have reached out to regular sports clubs, organisations and companies to open their doors for people with ID. As a result, during the last years, the number of Special Olympics athletes has increased significantly. The objective to reach 20,000 athletes in 2020 is becoming real thanks to the ‘Play Unified’ Campaign.
From 2017 the BSB and Special Olympics bond became stronger with the Play Unified partnership. BSB made a curriculum commitment and for three years now, BSB CAS students organise a Play Unified Swim Gala. This is a very special feature of the school.
Starting from 2020 Special Olympics will run the campaign ‘Open the Society’. Special Olympics wants to be an agent of change so that people with ID and their families will have better lives. Play Unified, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programme and education through schools will be important foci.
We are so proud that BSB is a long-term partner sharing these important values with us.
