Visit report of Gent Applying for: Summer Games in 2015 Visited by: Barry Barnes Visit date: April 27 28-04 2010 x Harry Burghoorn Reinhard Sitzler X Daniel Diguet Eva Severinson Kurt Petersen Organiser: Belgium Association for company Sport (VLB) Supported by the Gent city represented by Kathy De Budt See organizational structure_escg2015 Hosts: Kathy De Budt Elke Debaets Guy de Grauwe Organisation: o City of Gent (Promotion&Sport) o VLB ( Genaral manager) o VLB (Vice Chairman) Spoken to: Paul Van Cauwenberge Dirk Van Haelter Jan Bonnarens Rector University Gent Secretary University Gent Head sport department university Win Vandendriessche Head department city promotion & sport Program April 27 2010 Program April 28 2008: Visited Convention Center and the city hall Daniel Termont Christophe Peeters Robert de Roek Mayor of Gent Deputy mayor of Sport Gent Chairman VLB Visit centres, sport venues and accommodations: Visit Convention Center (ICC) and sport venues Visit of hotels (4* and 2*) (See attached documents) Dinner with Paul Van Cauwenberge (Rector University) and university staff Visit centres, sport venues and accommodations: Visit sport venues Visit hotel ( 1*) and hostel Boat trip on the Leie (Lys) river (See attached document ) Dinner with Win Vandendriessche and Annick Debels ( Director Convention Center),Robert de Roek (VLB) International Convention Center - Close to the city Center and station, the ICC will welcome the information and registration Center. - Its very large capacity makes it a good candidate for the opening ceremony inside the Kuipke velodrome (4980 seats) - A lot of meeting rooms (from 20 to 350 seats) could be dedicated to Chess, executive committee and/or EFCS general assy - Opportunity will be given for combination with the "modern art museum visit - Participant dinners will be held in a very large old building in which carpets and tents will be installed - An underground car parking is available - Access for disabled - A large park surrounded the ICC o City Hall : - The town hall is the one that shows most clearly the history and the fate of the city from the end of the 15th century until now. - It could welcome specific events if necessary
Visited - Sports facilities : Sport complex university of Gent (GUSB) Flanders Sport Arena/Cycling Center E.Merckx (possibilities of BMX competition) Blaameersen recreation and sport area ( additional opportunity of Rugby and Roller competition Bowling complex de Meilbloen Sport hall Bourgoyen Sport hall Tolhuis Damme Golf & Country club Bowling Complex Real Bowling Royal Cody Gent Rifle club See attached document accommodation_sport_visit Visited - Accommodations: Participating fee: o Hotel harmony (4*) a very charming hotel in the city historical Center o Hotel IBIS (2*) o Trianon (1*) o Hotel Van de Valk ( 1*) o De Draecke Youth Hostel See attached document accommodation_sport_visit Not yet fixed Transport: o Public buses and trams are available as well as bike rental o Due to the compact nature of the town sports and hotel facilities, most destinations can be reached quickly, even on foot (or bike). o Most of the sports facilities are within a radius of 5 km. from the city centre (except Golf). o Most of the hotels and hostels are within a radius of 5 km. from the city centre, and only few outside. Dedicated transport must be organized for at least one of the golf venues (30km far from).it will be also considered to propose accommodation close to the remote golf venues Hotels, hostels and accommodation: Opening and closing ceremony and parade: Hotels: The town has a lot of high standard hotels 4* hotels (1934 beds) 3* hotels (1157 beds) 2* hotels (895 beds) 1* hotels (260 beds) 0* hotels (191 beds) Charming hotels (84 beds) B&B (410 beds) About 500 beds are located 20 km far from the city Center Hostels: Youth Hostels (182 beds) Campings (200 beds) A total of 5658 beds will be offered See attached documents capacity Summer Games Facilities_ECSG2105 ESCG2015- HOTELACCOMODATION GHENT and accommodation_sport_visit The opening ceremony will start outside the Citadel Park or at the Sint- Pietersplein to the Kuipke velodrome. The closing ceremony will take place at the Sint-Pietersplein. During our visit, a lot of other possibilities raised See attached document Task visit Sport management EFCS
General remarks: A lot of sport venues have the international qualification (indoor T&F, cycling ) with possible catering everywhere A high ranking historical medieval city ( churches, castle, housing ) supporting a strong tourism development Potential raining plans ( a lot of large capacity indoors facilities) A friendly and relax behaviour of the people in general (university spirit A great respect of the nature (sustainable development) and disabled An exceptional recreation area the Blaameersen close to the city offering rest, fun and sport An international 1.5 km rowing arena close to Additional middle class hotels will be built at a short notice Summer Games: The games are planned from June 24 th to 28 th 2015 Limitations: Our comments to Executive committee: Beds for 2 stars category and below Shooting venue not fitting the sport manual request Petanque area to be set up The Gent/VLB is a very good candidate for the EFCS Summer Games 2015 for the following reasons: o The strong and visible involvement of the city and university officials ( IOC s Jacques Rogge is member of the patronage committee) o The Gent experience of large event organisation o The sports facilities far above the average which offer about 20 sport disciplines ( with extra possibilities) o A large density of sport facilities and accommodations within less than 5 km for the info centre ( the Blaameersen area as the heart of the games) o The VLB structure in which the Guy de Grauwe knowledge about EFCS as Vice President will be significant o The fruitful combination of sport, fun, nature and tourism o An easy access from most of the European competitors Infrastructure Documentation/enclosure s: Railways: Frequent trains from Brussels (30 mn) Air Flights: Brussels international airport Documentation from Gent: Task visit Sport management EFCS capacity Summer Games Facilities_ECSG2105 ESCG2015- HOTELACCOMODATION GHENT organizational structure_escg2015 Documentation from Daniel and Harry: accommodation_sport_visit On behalf of EFCS Sport Management Daniel Diguet Harry Burghoorn 10 may 2010
International Convention Center Gent ICC velodrome for opening ceremony Registration area Space for participant dinners BLOSO T&F international center E.Merckx Sport hall ( cycling, Badminton Volley)
Sport venues The Blaameersen recreation area The Blaameersen beach volley The Blaameersen tennis indoors The Blaameersen tennis outdoors The Blaameersen football The Blaameersen T&F
Sports venues De Meibloen Bowling Sport hall Tolhuis (Basket ball) Damme Golf course Damme Golf course Sport Hall Bourgoyen Royal Cody Rifle Club ( 10 m air rifle)
Sports venues (extra sport possibilities) Blaameersen minigolf Blaameersen Rugby and Roller Rowing international area BMX competition area Blaameersen Fitness Blaameersen water Recreation
City Transport Disable access to a sport hall Gent bus network Biking in Gent down town Tramway in Gent TGV Thalys direct to Paris via Brussels Saint Pieter s railways station
Accommodations Hotel Harmony(4*) Hotel Harmony Hotel IBIS (2*) Hotel Trianon (1*) Hotel Marriot Hostel De Draeke
Gent as a historical medieval city Gent Castle Boat trip on the Leie (Lys) Gent Historical Center Gent old university City hall sculptures Saint Nicolas church