European Aquatics on a working visit to Belgium
Belgian swimming received a high-level visit from European Aquatics this week. President Antonio Silva, Treasurer Andida Bouma and Sílvia da Costa, responsible for the Aquatics Social Responsibility project, were guests in Belgium for an intensive working visit, during which both sporting and administrative topics were discussed.
17/6: Visit to Antwerp
On Tuesday, the first part of the programme took place in Antwerp. At the Zwemfed offices, in-depth discussions were held regarding the Swim Safe Europe & Education programme — a key initiative by European Aquatics focusing on water safety, education, and social responsibility.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Wezenberg Olympic Swimming Centre, where they were introduced to the infrastructure, the high-performance operations, and the talented young swimmers present. Special attention was given to the state-of-the-art underwater camera system and the strong cooperation between local and national stakeholders. Representatives from the City of Antwerp’s Sports Department and pool management were also in attendance to exchange ideas and future visions.
18/6: Sport Transparency Index Congress in Brussels
On Wednesday, June 18, the delegation attended the Sport Transparency Index Congress in Brussels. During the event, both Antonio Silva and Kim Van Malderen, Director of the RBSF, took the floor. Their contributions highlighted the importance of transparency, good governance, and ethics in the world of sport — all highly relevant topics that the Royal Belgian Swimming Federation actively promotes.
19/6: Meeting with BOIC and the federations
The working visit concludes on Thursday, June 19 with a meeting between the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC), Kim Vanmalderen (Director of RBSF), Pieterjan Vangerven (Zwemfed, representing the Flemish federation), and the two co-presidents of RBSF: Kris Geeroms (Zwemfed) and Bernard Parez (FFBN). This meeting highlights the strong cooperation between the different communities within the RBSF and their integration at the international level.
The RBSF looks back with satisfaction on this visit and thanks European Aquatics for the constructive dialogue and inspiring exchange. These meetings reinforce the shared ambition to further develop aquatic sports in Belgium within a safe, inclusive, and ethically responsible framework, in line with European objectives.
