Flemish Inspectorate of Finance to investigate financial flows of Cycling Vlaanderen

Flemish Minister of Sport Ben Weyts has asked the Flemish Inspectorate of Finance to investigate the financial flows of Cycling Vlaanderen, to clarify whether the cycling federation spends its subsidy correctly.

Cycling Vlaanderen, the officially recognised and subsidised cycling federation in Flanders, will soon be visited by the Flemish Inspectorate of Finance. Flemish Minister of Sport Ben Weyts announced this on Friday in a press release. The minister wants to check whether the federation spends its subsidies correctly. 

"There must be clarification about all money flows in the past and present," Weyts says. "There are doubts about the correct use of public funds." For the minister it is also in the interest of the Flemish cycling federation that "every doubt is removed".

Cycling Vlaanderen has been in turmoil for some time, with questions being asked about certain flows of money and about the relationship between the Flemish federation and Belgian Cycling, the Belgian Cycling Federation. The CEO and several other board members of Cycling Vlaanderen have already resigned.

A year ago the Minister of Sport already asked for an audit, which was delivered this week. "However, there are still unanswered questions," Weyts confirms. "For example, the audit did not look at all the money flows."

The Flemish Inspectorate of Finance will now investigate whether subsidies have been used correctly.

"There must be transparency about all money flows, in the past and present," the minister says. "The Finance Inspectorate will independently investigate whether everything was done according to the rules and in line with the market."

(AHU)

© Belga Photo Jasper Jacobs - Illustration picture shows the pack of riders in action during the men's race of the 'Ronde van Vlaanderen - Tour des Flandres - Tour of Flanders' one day cycling event, 272,5km from Antwerp to Oudenaarde, Sunday 03 April 2022.