The ambitious Brussels Capital Region supports events which are every bit as daring it is.
On 5th September, it will play host to two important international events. On the one hand, the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme, the final of the IAAF Diamond League which brings together the world’s finest athletes each year. On the other, from 5th to 7th September the Comics Strip Festival organised by VISITBRUSSELS will be inviting top writers to make the 9th art accessible to the widest possible audience in the heart of the capital in the famous Brussels Park.
Like every year, the 38th edition of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme will take place at the King Baudouin Stadium where 50,000 spectators will reverberate to the sound of the starting gun. Athletes from various disciplines will be competing for first place on the podium in front of a very enthusiastic crowd.
The Comics Strip Festival, which begins on the same day as the Memorial and finishes two days later, on Sunday 7th September, sees the 9th art on full display and again offers a programme which will delight young and old alike. The Balloon’s Day Parade, the Comics Strip Festival, the Tintin Journal Rally, autograph sessions, exhibitions, a night-time show in the Brussels Park and guided visits will all take place throughout the weekend.
On 5th September, these two events will come together to celebrate diversity, excellence and as ambassadors for a region where talent is revealed, shared and lived! Spectators will not only be welcomed into the legendary King Baudouin Stadium by the huge Tintin and Spirou balloons, the emblematic characters of the Smurfs, Spirou, Spike and Suzy will accompany the athletes for a lap of the track to officially mark the opening of the final of the IAAF Diamond League.
The 5th September is also the occasion for the Brussels Capital Region, VISITBRUSSELS and the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme to invite along other talents! Young people from all four corners of Belgium will take part in the final of a 4x100m relay in the legendary King Baudouin Stadium prior to the main event. This final is the culmination of a selection procedure organised by the school sporting associations of the country’s various linguistic communities. A genuine opportunity for the youngsters to not only experience the grandeur and magic of the sport but also discover Brussels through its two leading attractions, the Atomium and Mini-Europe.
