Sport Events Guide
There are many sports events in the city, as well as a number of large sports teams based in the city. Tickets can be bought on the websites provided.RSC Anderlecht – RSC is probably the most famous football team in Belgium, based in Anderlecht on the eastern side of the city. Their home games are played at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.SPA Francorchamps – Home of the Belgian F1 Grand Prix, and many other racing events throughout the year. Less than a 2 hour drive from Brussels. http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/index.php?lg=enVan Damme Memorial IAAF Grand Prix – An annual athletics event hosted in Brussels in memorial of Ivo van Damme, a Belgian middle-distance runner killed in a car crash in 1976. This event is one of the main track and field meetings on the IAAF calender. It is held at King Badouin Stadium (formerly Heysel Stadium) in late August or early September. For more information go to http://www.diamondleague-brussels.com/en/
Tour de Flanders – (Cycling) There are many cycle events throughout the year in and around Brussels. Cycling is one of the most popular sports and pastimes in Belgium and commands a large audience. Often, as in 2010, the Tour de France runs through Belgium as well, with hundreds of thousands of people turning out along the route to catch some of the action, spiced up by the fact that there are stages that run long sections on cobblestones making for treacherous conditions, particularly with the often wet conditions that are so common in Belgium. http://www.rvv.be/en/
GDF Suez Diamond Games- Tennis event by invitation usually in December. The format recently changed due to the WAT’s rescheduling of events and as such does not have the pull of quality players it had previously. It is worth staying informed as to who will be competing as it is one major opportunity to see top-class femaletennis players in action in Belgium. Located in Antwerp, at the Sportpaleis, it is only a 40 minutes drive from Brussels. http://sport.be.msn.com/diamondgames/2010/eng/
Hockey- Field hockey is very popular in Belgium and of a high standard. Information on leagues and teams can be found at http://www.hockey.be/
King Baudouin Stadium(Formerly Heysel Stadium) – This stadium, that has been surrounded in controversy since the “Heysel Disaster” which occurred during the European Cup Final in 1985. It has had recent upgrades and is home to events that include Belgian national football games, the Van Damme Memorial IAAF Grand Prix and other events. Located in North-West Brussels, it has a capacity of just over 50,000 and also hosts Belgium national rugby games and is home to the Royal Excelsior Sports Club. The stadium does not have a website, but more information can be found at: http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4614
