Rift between Flemish and Walloon athletics federations deepens over Thiam affair
The fallout between Belgium’s athletics federations intensified after a reacting by Athletics Flanders on Friday. The Flemish federation acknowledged that unity within Belgian Athletics had “broken down” during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Representatives from both sides are supposed to act as one voice at international tournaments, but that principle was not upheld, Athletics Flanders claims. It stressed that the internal row does not affect Flemish athletes’ day-to-day support, which runs entirely through league structures.
The federation also welcomed French Community Sports minister Jacqueline Galant’s move to mediate in the Thiam dispute, and said it will temporarily refrain from commenting on national matters until trust with the French-speaking athletics federation LBFA is restored.
A conflict over portrait rights led to Nafi Thiam, three-time Olympic champion and two-time world heptathlon champion, giving up in Tokyo. LBFA president Jessica Mayon later blamed Athletics Flanders officials for "not wanting" Thiam at the event.
"I am ashamed to be a Belgian," her coach Michael Van der Plaetsen said at the time. "There is just no explanation. This simply isn't acceptable." Notably, Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Friday that Thiam and Van der Plaetsen are in a relationship.
Other athletes also affected
Criticism has also came from 400m hurdler Paulien Couckuyt, who blamed Athletics Flanders for her semi-final exit in Tokyo. Couckuyt said a back injury was compounded by the federation's late decision not to allow her coach, Koen Bellemans, to travel.
"It is not nice that we don't have coaches here, while the French-speaking federation allowed them to come with us to the World Cup,” she told Sporza last week. "Last year, we already tried to raise some issues, but we are not listened to."
Het Nieuwsblad writes that, following Athletics Flanders’ statement, a scheduled meeting between the regional federations next week was cancelled, further delaying any resolution in the Thiam case.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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