Opening Klimax II
Yesterday I attended the official opening of Klimax II, a new part of the indoor climbing complex in Breendonk, not so far from where I live. I had the honour(?) of listening to a couple of speeches, amongst others by our Flemish sports minister Bert Anciaux, and our rather new Flemish Minister-president Kris Peeters.
Of course those speeches are not the reason you go to ceremonies like this. It's a good opportunity to meet people and learn the latest news about what's going on behind the screens. Of course this happens during the drink afterwards, but also while we were waiting for our Minister-president, who was about one hour late...
Klimax II is the first big climbing hall in Belgium that has lead climbing by default, as toproping is standard in Belgian indoor climbing. It's also not completely indoors, two sides are open, which allows a lot of spectators watching competitions, the first of which will be the World Cup within a couple of weeks.
September 8 was also the day the new Flemish climbing federation KBF (Klim- & Bergsport Federatie) should have been founded. For those not knowing: so far we had two federations here, history would take us to far if I had to explain all of this, and the main reason they didn't get together earlier, is people sticking to their position of power at both sides, blocking everything.
Also now I heard one big club is trying to block the process because they want more power in the new federation.
Why do I bother to write about this political topic?
A couple of years ago I was president of the smaller one of those two federations, and I spent a lot of energy to get to a fusion. So although I am not at all involved anymore in the actual process, I still care. And I will still be glad if one day will show all my energy spent on it, will not have been wasted.
But maybe the most interesting thing I heard yesterday is about ice climbing. I learned there is a waterfall in Belgium that freezes over regularly. I made the guy who told me promise to call me when it does next time, to go climb it with him. I hope he does!
Of course those speeches are not the reason you go to ceremonies like this. It's a good opportunity to meet people and learn the latest news about what's going on behind the screens. Of course this happens during the drink afterwards, but also while we were waiting for our Minister-president, who was about one hour late...
Klimax II is the first big climbing hall in Belgium that has lead climbing by default, as toproping is standard in Belgian indoor climbing. It's also not completely indoors, two sides are open, which allows a lot of spectators watching competitions, the first of which will be the World Cup within a couple of weeks.
September 8 was also the day the new Flemish climbing federation KBF (Klim- & Bergsport Federatie) should have been founded. For those not knowing: so far we had two federations here, history would take us to far if I had to explain all of this, and the main reason they didn't get together earlier, is people sticking to their position of power at both sides, blocking everything.
Also now I heard one big club is trying to block the process because they want more power in the new federation.
Why do I bother to write about this political topic?
A couple of years ago I was president of the smaller one of those two federations, and I spent a lot of energy to get to a fusion. So although I am not at all involved anymore in the actual process, I still care. And I will still be glad if one day will show all my energy spent on it, will not have been wasted.
But maybe the most interesting thing I heard yesterday is about ice climbing. I learned there is a waterfall in Belgium that freezes over regularly. I made the guy who told me promise to call me when it does next time, to go climb it with him. I hope he does!
posted by Nonkel V at
10:14 AM
