On the 21st of July 2022, Belgian Independence Day, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the status of ‘Brussels Olympic Research and Education Centre (BOREC)’ to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC). The aim of BOREC is to contribute to the education, research and support provision related to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement and their place within society. BOREC is part of the worldwide network of about 50 Olympic Studies and Research Centres. BOREC is part of the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy.
BOREC is headed by Prof. Paul Wylleman and he is joined by the following colleagues at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (in alphabetical order):
Prof. Veerle De Bosscher of the research group Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy;
Prof. Koen De Brandt of the research group Sport Psychology and Mental Support (SPMB) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy and coordinator of the academic department Topsport and Study;
Prof. Inge Derom of the research group Sport and Society (SASO) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy;
Prof. Jolan Kegelaers of Brussels University Consultation Center (BRUCC) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and of the research group Sport Psychology and Mental Support (SPMB) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy;
Prof. Bart Roelands of the research group Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy (MFYS) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy
Prof. Marc Theeboom of the research group Sport and Society (SASO) at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy and of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences;
Prof. Peter Theuns of the End-of-life care research group and of Brussels University Consultation Center (BRUCC) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
Affiliated members include:
Mr. Olav Spahl, director elite sport at the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC);
Mr. Eddy Desmedt, fellow VUB and director elite sport at the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC);
Mr. Maurits Hendriks, fellow VUB and fellow or the VUB, board member at FC Ajax and former director Elite sport at TeamNL (NOC*NSF);
Mr. Jos Verschueren, head of the Post-graduate Sport Management at the VUB.
BOREC can be contacted via its head Prof. Paul Wylleman (Paul.Wylleman@vub.be - +32 2 6292712) and is situated at the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy (Building L – 4th floor) at Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel.