Belgian paralympic athletes to be honoured by the city of Brussels in ceremony on Monday

The city of Brussels is preparing to celebrate the return of Belgium’s paralympic team from Paris on Monday with a public reception at the Bourse.

Paralympic Team Belgium won a total of 14 medals at the games: seven gold, four silver and three bronze. It finished 19th in the medal table; China was the overall winner with a total of 222 medals, followed by Great Britain (125) and the US (105).

Belgium’s gold medal winners were wheelchair sprinters Maxime Carabin and Léa Bayekula (both in the 100m and 400m), equestrian Michèle George (individual and freestyle event) and table tennis player Laurens Devos.

Para-cyclists Ewoud Vromant (3km individual pursuit and time trial) and Maxime Hordies (time trial) as well as wheelchair sprinter Peter Genyn (100 m) won silver. Genyn also won bronze in the 200m, as did para-cyclists Tim Celen and Jonas Van de Steene (both in the time trial).

After participating in the games’ closing ceremony in the French capital on Sunday, Belgium’s 78 athletes can expect a triumphant welcome home by the city and the Belgian Paralympic Committee.

After reuniting with their families and loved ones, the paralympic athletes will appear on the steps of  the Bourse at 17.00 and meet supporters at 17.45.

The delegation will be driven from Gare du Midi to the Bourse by a procession of buses and minibuses under police escort on Monday at 15.00, said Brussels’ public transport operator Stib in a statement.

“Transporting the paralympic athletes in our vehicles confirms the inclusion initiatives initiated by Stib. I hope that the exemplary nature of the athletes will encourage citizens with disabilities to try our public transport network,” said accessibility manager Christian de Strycker.

Photo: ©Paralympic Team Belgium/Gilles Dehérand