For the first time in the history of the European Deaf Sport Organisation, the European Games for deaf athletes are taking place, this time specifically for young people under the age of 19, with a view to extending the event to the senior categories in the future. The best European youth athletes born between 2008 and 2012 will compete against one another in nine different sports, with around 500 athletes from 24 countries taking part.

The Belgian Deaf Sports Committee is sending its young athletes to compete in four different sports, with a total of 13 athletes accompanied by eight members of staff, in the following disciplines: Athletics, Futsal, Table Tennis and Tennis.

All of this is taking place in Hanover, Germany from 18 until 22 August 2026.

We wish these young athletes – most of whom are experiencing the world of Deaf sport for the first time – every success. However, the guiding principle here is that ‘taking part is more important than winning’, to help them take that step towards the future and, hopefully, compete in European and world championships, as well as the Deaflympics, which are reserved solely for the elite.

Somewhere deep down… we hope that a few of them will excel and bring home medals, and that this first experience will be an unforgettable journey for them…

Below, we’ll be introducing all our young people to you, one by one.

Atletiek

Senne LAENENS from Deurne (°2009), with club Olse AC Merksem.
He will participate in the 100 m & 200 m & Long Jump and will be guided by TD Marina Demunter & coach Koen Laenens.

Programm:

21.08 at 10:20 u.: ½ final 100 m
21.08 at 11.20 u.: Final 100 m
21.08 at 11.50 u.: Long Jump Final
21.08 at 17.30 u.: ½ Final 200 m
22.08 at 10.40 u.: Final 200 m

Venue
Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke Weg 2A · 30169 Hannover

Futsal

This team is trained and coached by our KBVB (Belgian Football Association)-qualified coach, David Van Assche, who was himself a top player for our national futsal team in the past. Bart Naudts, CEO of the BDC football division, is responsible for providing expert guidance.

The 10 futsal players are:
Taha ABDERRAHMANI TAHA uit Gent (°2010)

Noah BEGIJN uit Lochristi (°2010)
Younes BELGHAZI uit Grivegnée (°2008)
Justin BOURSE uit Aywaille (°2010)
Staf DE VREESE uit Lievegem (°2011)
Idriss EL LAMARTI uit Anderlecht (°2009)
Younes MOULA uit Wilrijk (°2009)
Fuabana Mbuyi Imara MWAMBA NZAMBI uit Anderlecht (°2011)
Leonard SCOTT uit Bovigny (°2010)
Brasil SPITAELS uit Zottegem (°2010)

Belgium will be playing in Groep B against Hungary, Sweden & Denmark.
Venues:

Futsal Venue 1 – Sophienschule - Schackstraße 21, 30175 Hannover
Futsal Venue 2 - TuS Vinnhorst Grashöfe 27, 30419 Hannover

The playing schedule can be found here below under "Files".

Tafeltennis

Tjenne DE MEESTER (born 2010) from Ghent will be competing for the first time, coached by Nele Willems and Jan Van den Braembussche.

Programm:

20 August: training sessions
21 August, starting at 09.30: competition
21 August, starting at 09.30: competition

Venue: Sporthal Am Südbahnhof 7, 30171 Hannover-Südstadt-Bult

Tennis

Emiel SCHIPPERS (born 2008) will take part in the tennis competition under the guidance of his coach Luc Crauwels and team leader Roel Schippers.

Programm:

18 August: training sessions
19–22 August, starting at 09.00 each day: Competition

Venue
Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke Weg 2A · 30169 Hannover

In addition, the entire delegation will be in good hands with VGT interpreter Lieve Roodhooft and Jan Van den Braembussche as delegation leader.
The delegation will be staying at the Designhotel Wienecke in Hanover.