Controversial comments dull shine of Belgium's golden Olympics

Team Belgium enjoyed its most successful Olympic Games since Paris in 1924 this year, winning three gold medals in Tokyo and seven medals in total. The Belgians equalled their performance at the London Games in 1948 and improved on the last Games in Rio in 2016 where the team won six medals, including two gold, two silver and two bronze.

Of the 123 Belgian athletes present in Tokyo, 26 leave with an Olympic diploma after placing in the top eight in their events. In 2016, 19 Belgians achieved the same feat.

Nafissatou Thiam retained the Olympic title she won in Rio by claiming gold in the heptathlon, becoming only the second woman to win two gold medals in the event and to repeat as Olympic champion.

Two-time World and European champion Nina Derwael won gold on the uneven bars apparatus, the first medal for a Belgian woman in artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

Belgium’s third gold medal was won by the men’s field hockey team, the Red Lions, who beat Australia 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the final of the competition. The team enjoyed a rapturous reception on their return to Belgium on Saturday, touring the streets of Brussels in an open-top bus before celebrating with fans from a stage on Place Rogier.

But amid all the celebrations, there was also controversy.

A video surfaced online on Saturday night of a commentator on Sporza, the sports channel of Flemish public-service broadcaster VRT, making inappropriate and offensive comments about some of Belgium’s female athletes.

During the broadcast of the tribute to the Olympic medallists on Saturday afternoon via Sporza's Facebook Live channel, sports journalist Eddy Demarez was heard off-camera saying the Belgian women’s basketball team, the Belgian Cats, were "almost all lesbians" while calling one member of the team “a man” and another “a mountain”.

"The video channel remained open and even though Eddy was out of sight, the inappropriate comments were clearly heard,” VRT reacted in a statement. “Sporza and VRT distance themselves from these statements."

“This goes completely against the positive policy that the VRT wants to pursue. VRT will enter into discussions with Eddy and in the meantime, he will no longer comment on the programmes. Such statements cannot be tolerated."

Demarez himself issued a lengthy apology after his comments came to light: “In the euphoria that followed the tribute to the returning medallists, I made statements in a private conversation away from the studio that overstepped the line.

"I never intended to offend anyone because of their gender or orientation. It is doubly regrettable that these statements come after the Games that have been very successful for Team Belgium and for Sporza. I would therefore like to sincerely apologise to the Belgian Cats and to all those who feel offended, questioned or denigrated by what I have said. I have asked the Cats about the possibility of apologising to them personally. I will learn the necessary lessons from this and ensure that it does not happen again in the future."

Max Agency, the sports marketing company which represents Belgian Cat Ann Wauters among other athletes, issued a statement condemning the comments.

"As the management office of many professional athletes in basketball and volleyball, it was with dismay, deep disappointment and undeniable anger that we heard the audio excerpt in which some of our players who are part of the Belgian Cats, were, inappropriately and gratuitously, insulted and humiliated by people who were supposed to simply comment on their sporting exploits. By openly and shamefully insulting top athletes on the basis of totally irrelevant criteria, the people concerned have undermined the extraordinary performances of these athletes."

"It is disgusting to see that immeasurable human damage can still be inflicted today on female players and their loved ones, at a time when the media are talking about the importance of improving the mental well-being of athletes and respect for them."

The Max Agency said it would not settle for apologies and announcements that VRT is continuing its efforts to improve the situation. "We expect appropriate responses from the competent authorities that should go beyond the usual and insignificant initial excuses. On behalf of our athletes, we will ensure that the injustice done to them is recognised and that the necessary debate on this subject does not fade quickly."

The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (COIB) also commented on the controversy.

"The COIB takes note of the statements made by the presenter during the livestream of the athletes' return event. These statements are clearly not in line with the values of the COIB, Team Belgium and the Olympic Movement. Every Belgian Cats player, just like every Olympian, is a valuable and full member of Team Belgium. Team Belgium is synonymous with excellence, friendship and respect.”