Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

London is Just Around the Corner: Belgium, Britain and Sport

2013; Routledge; Volume: 30; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09523367.2013.790376

1743-9035

Pascal Delheye, Stijn Knuts, Thomas Ameye,

Cultural Identity and Heritage

AbstractAnswering the legitimate call for a more transnational approach to the history of sport in Europe, we seize upon the 2012 Olympic Games as an opportunity to look back on Belgo-British contacts in sport since the Middle Ages. Contextualising this history within the wider Belgo-British political, economic and cultural contacts is, indeed, much more revealing than recounting a superficial story about the three medals the Belgian Olympic delegation actually obtained in London. We illustrate that transnational flows and contacts – crucial to the shaping and diffusion of sport – are not always reflected at the level of the Olympic Games. The cases of cycle racing and soccer demonstrate the divergent adoption and adaptation processes of specific sporting disciplines in Belgium and Britain. At the end of the paper, we also reflect on David Cameron's competitive sport policy in primary education, and raise the question whether the dissipation of public funds for elite sport – to the detriment of 'Sport for All' – is still defendable in times of government budgetary scarcity.Keywords:: transnational historyOlympic GamesHenry de Baillet-LatourJacques RoggeVincent Kompany Notes 1. "Dossier. Londen, 2012." (Sporta Magazine, March, 2012, 4, 5). 2. CitationNew London, 13. 3. "CitationBelgium," (The Telegraph Online, March 13, 2012). 4. Humo, July 10, 2012. 5. CitationJohnes, "Britain;" CitationStokvis, "Belgium and the Netherlands;" CitationDelheye and Renson, "Belgique" for some review articles. 6. See, f.i., CitationTomlinson and Young, "Towards a New History of European Sport." 7. CitationMurray, Vlaanderen, 27; CitationGevaert, Slagveld van Europa; CitationBlom and Lamberts, Geschiedenis, 57. 8. CitationBrooke and Keir, London, 179 and 268–9; Blom and Lamberts, Geschiedenis, 32–4 and 81. 9. Murray, Vlaanderen, 183–5; CitationMarnef, "Gresham and Antwerp." 10. Some sixteenth-century London neighbourhoods were almost exclusively inhabited by Low Countries refugees (see Murray, Vlaanderen, 27 and 31–6). 11. See, f.i., Murray, Vlaanderen, 149–50 and passim; CitationHefford, "Flemish Tapestry." 12. On this image see Murray, Vlaanderen, 27. 13. CitationGillmeister, "The Flemish Ancestry," 54–74. 14. CitationTerry, "The Seventeenth Century Game of Cricket." 15. Found by Jan Luitzen in Hexham, Het groot woorden-boeck: gestelt in 't Nederduytsch, ende in 't Engelsch. Thanks to Nicoline van der Sijs et al. a digital version of this dictionary became available in 2010. In the framework of his PhD research, Jan Luitzen will further analyse the introduction of sport terminology in the Netherlands, using his digital library containing thousands of sports books and dictionaries. 16. CitationVan der Beken, "Inleiding tot de beschrijvende historiek," 20–6, 86–91, 139, 143–6; CitationGuttmann, Sports, 70–1. On coastal and spa tourism in Belgium see CitationGobyn, Te kust en te kuur, 28–9, 293–6. 17. CitationCoolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 21–72; CitationWitte, "De Constructie," 29–235. 18. Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 35–9, 41–2, 60; CitationDeneckere, Leopold I. 19. CitationBagini, "Great Britain," 1004–6. 20. Witte, "De Constructie," 45–6 and 163–71; CitationGubin and Nandrin, "Het liberale en burgerlijke België," 372–77; Algemene Geschiedenis, 57–8 and 128–39. 21. CitationCoppejans-Desmedt, "Bauwens, Lieven." 22. Gubin and Nandrin, "Het liberale en burgerlijke België," 377; Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 161; CitationBoeren, "De handelsbetrekkingen," 122–8. 23. CitationHolt, Sport and the British, 74–116; CitationMangan, Athleticism; CitationLowerson, Sport and the English Middle Classes, 1–28. 24. There is a considerable body of literature on the cultural transfer of British sport to the European continent, see f.i. CitationEisenbergh, English Sports; CitationIdem, "Towards a New History;" CitationHeraiz and Sanchez, "The British Influence." 25. For an international comparison with regard to the role of these expatriates see, f.i., Eisenberg, "The rise," 383–4; Lanfranchi and Taylor, Moving with the Ball, 33. 26. Delheye and Renson, "Belgique," 121. 27. CitationAmeloot, "Ontstaan en ontwikkeling," 23–5; CitationStynen, "Proeftuinen," 426; CitationDen Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 251, 258 and 302–3. 28. Ameloot, "Ontstaan en ontwikkeling," 52–64 and 79–80; Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 305–306; Gobyn, Te kust en te kuur, 134. 29. La Belgique Sportive, 1/1 (1887): 8, quoted in Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 170; Ameloot, "Ontstaan en ontwikkeling," 70–1; Lanfranchi and Taylor, Moving with the Ball, 20–5; CitationDeleu, Honderd jaar, 7–8. 30. CitationNeirynck, "De scholen;" CitationRenson, "Corpus Alienum," 99–102; CitationSchalembier, "Historiek," 71–9 and 101; CitationVanysacker, Van FC Brugeois tot Club Brugge KV, 39. 31. Delheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics;" CitationStrobbe, 200 jaar dichters, denkers en durvers. 32. CitationVangrunderbeek, Soors and Delheye, Omnes currunt, 27; Renson, "Corpus alienum," 101–3. 33. Renson, "Corpus alienum." 34. Renson, "Corpus alienum," 103; Schalembier, "Historiek," 100–18. 35. Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 257–60; Schalembier, "Historiek," 91–4 and 113–4. With regard to the (more recent) history of soccer clubs in Belgium, see also CitationDuke and Renson, "From Factions to Fusions." Their paper was the result of an excellent Belgo–British cooperation. 36. Ameloot, "Ontstaan en ontwikkeling," 100; Schalembier, "Historiek," 103–4. 37. Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 251 and 268–76; Schalembier, "Historiek," 119–55. On the UBSSA see also CitationBoin, Livre d'or. 38. These French protagonists had themselves already been thoroughly influenced by British practices. See, f.i., Van der Beken, "Inleiding tot de beschrijvende historiek," 31–2 and 40–50. 39. Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 91–162 and 180–2. 40. CitationTolleneer, "The Dual Meaning," 95. With regard to gymnastics there was, of course, a huge influence from Germany and Sweden. See, f.i., Delheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics;" CitationDelheye, "Happel in Antwerp." 41. For recent revisionist literature in which the primordial role of Great Britain in shaping European sport is questioned see, f.i., CitationDietschy, "French Sport," 509–13; Tomlinson and Young, "Towards a New History", 499–503. 42. CitationDelheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics in Belgium." 43. CitationTolleneer, "The Attitude," 217–22; Renson, "Corpus alienum," 105–6. 44. Guttmann, Sports, 94–6. 45. Idem, 96–7; Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 164–74. Only in 1947 did a British rowing association become a member of the FISA. 46. CitationKnuts, Delheye and Vanysacker, "Wentelende wielen," 18–9. Paradoxically, the British were first introduced to cycling by the French in the late 1860s as well (see CitationRitchie, Quest for Speed, 23–39 and 153). 47. Vélo-Revue, 1/1 (1893): 1–2. 48. See also CitationKnuts and Delheye, "Cycling in the City." 49. CitationDe Laet, 125 jaar, 6–7; Le Vélo [Organe officiel du Vlaamsche Wielrijderskring], 1/1 (1886): 1–2 and 8. 50. Le Vélo, 1/4 (1886); Le Cycliste Belge Illustré, 2/62 (1891): 8. 51. Antwerp Bicycle Club. Organe Particulier du Club, February (1922): 1. 52. Le Véloce, 2/361 and 2/364 (1894); 3/10 (1895). 53. Idem, 2/356 and 2/361 (1894). 54. CitationLauters, Les débuts, 70–88. 55. Idem, 93 and Ritchie, Quest for Speed, 254–87. 56. Lauters, Les débuts, 142–5; Organe de l'Union Vélocipédique Libre, 1/1 (1893): 1–2. 57. Organe de l'UVL, 2/19 (1894): 1–2 and 2/22 (1894): 1–2. 58. Ritchie, Quest for Speed, 260 and 295–8; CitationMattheus, "De interne," 182–90. 59. Revue Vélocipédique Belge, 13/13 (1900): 194–5. 60. CitationEisenberg, "The rise," 376–7, 393–4 and 398; CitationKeys, Globalizing Sport, 1–4. 61. See also CitationAmeye, Gils and Delheye, "Daredevils and Early Birds." 62. CitationDeneckere, 1900, 10, 17 and 20–3; Gubin and Nandrin, "Het liberale en burgerlijke België," 372–77. 63. Dumoulin, "Het ontluiken," 729; Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 171–81; CitationDelheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics." 64. CitationLanfranchi and Taylor, Moving with the Ball, 31–5; Den Hollander, "Sport in 't Stad," 261–2; Schalembier, "Historiek," 98–9 and 110–2. 65. Schalembier, "Historiek," 171–80; L'Expansion Belge, 5/5 (1912): 297. 66. Honderd jaar, 10; Renson, "Corpus alienum," 119–20. See, f.i., Le Sportsman, 25–6 November 1905: 33. 67. Delheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics." 68. Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 144–5 and CitationStengers, Congo, 45–86 and 87–98. 69. Delheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics." 70. Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 153–4. For the historical debate on these abuses, see, f.i., CitationHochschild, King Leopold's Ghost and Stengers, Congo, 307–8. 71. Stengers, Congo. 72. L'Expansion Belge, 2/3 (1909): 140–5 and 157. 73. CitationHorne and Kramer, German Atrocities; CitationDe Schaepdrijver, De Groote Oorlog; CitationGullace, "The Blood of Our Sons," 17–33; CitationSteen, "Poor Little Belgium;" CitationDerez, "The Oxford of Belgium," 111–38. 74. CitationWinter, "Battlefield," 164–76. 75. Boin, Livre d'or, 268 and 273–275. See also CitationFraiponts and Willocx, Kroniek, III, 13–5. 76. Boin, Livre d'or, 270–2. 77. CitationTerret, Les Jeux Interalliés de 1919, 99–101. 78. Fraiponts and Willocx, Kroniek, III, 106; Boin, Livre d'or, 110 and Lanfranchi and Taylor, Moving with the Ball, 37–48. Between 1909 and 1921, Edouard de Laveleye was FIFA's vice-president. In 1924 his compatriot Joseph d'Oultremont was elected to this post, which he fulfilled until 1927. 79. Boin, Livre d'or, 277–84. 80. CitationVanmeerbeek, "Plus de sueur, moins de sang." 81. CitationPolitieke geschiedenis van België, 391–400; Blom and Lamberts, Geschiedenis, 298–99. 82. Coolsaet, België en zijn buitenlandse politiek, 557–63; CitationDujardin and Dumoulin, "Maakt eendracht nog altijd macht?", 1499–505. 83. CitationGowland, Turner and Wright, Britain and European Integration, 1–3. 84. De Tijd, February 25, 2010: 10; The Daily Mail Online, April 17, 2012 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1254085/QUENTIN-LETTS-Mr-Rumpy-Pumpy-gets-little-grumpy.html). 85. CitationSchaevers, "Brussel;" CitationSibaja, "Hooliganism," 114. 86. De Morgen, June 17, 2000: 3; Het Belang van Limburg, June 17, 2000: 1 and 32; Het Belang van Limburg, June 19, 2000: 2. 87. A total of 12 Belgian fan clubs for English teams were found. These included West Ham United (two clubs), Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea (The Mighty Blues), Aston Villa, Millwall, Manchester United and City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton and Portsmouth. See also http://www.voetbalbelgie.be/nl/article.php?id = 4859 (April 17, 2012). 88. Sportwereld (Het Nieuwsblad), March 12, 2013: 1 and 6–7. 89. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1306268-10-reasons-the-premier-league-is-the-best-in-the-world (with a prominent picture of Vincent Kompany). 90. Knack 42/50 (December 12–18, 2012). 91. Because of limited space available for this paper, we do not look at the Paralympics here – in which Belgian athletes and administrators, however, were very active. See, for instance, CitationDe Meyer, People in Motion. 92. See, f.i., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bids_for_the_2012_Summer_Olympics. 93. This appeared from the letters he wrote to – among others – Pierre de Coubertin and Cyrille Van Overbergh and from letters from the organising committee to Pierre de Coubertin (Lausanne: OSC IOC: Notice 0101993: Correspondence à Pierre de Coubertin 1906–1907; Brussels: State Archives: T038, 504). A letter from Clément Lefebure to Lars Mauritz Törngren, at that time director of the Central Gymnastics Institute in Stockholm, revealed that the Greek organising committee also addressed Nicolaas-Jan Cupérus in this regard, i.e. the leader of German Gymnastics (Turnen) in Belgium and Europe. However, Cupérus refused to cooperate with Lefebure (because the latter was the most ardent propagator of Swedish Gymnastics in Belgium). See Delheye, "Struggling for Gymnastics;" Idem, "Struggling for Gymnastics in Belgium;" Stockholm: National Archives: Lars Mauritz Törngren Arkiv: 8XLI, 2238. 94. Letter from Henry de Baillet-Latour to Pierre de Coubertin, March 17, 1906 (Lausanne: OSC IOC: Notice 0101993). 95. Idem. 96. Procès verbal de la séance du 18 février 1906 (Brussels: State Archives: T038, 504). 97. Lausanne: OSC IOC: Notice 0101993: Correspondence à Pierre de Coubertin 1906–1907. 98. Letter from Clément Lefebure to Pierre de Coubertin, March 19, 1906 (Lausanne: OSC IOC: Notice 0101993). Henry de Baillet-Latour did not become president until 1923; 2 years later he was also elected IOC president. 99. Together with the 500 BEF from Ernest Solvay, who also donated to the Games in Athens, one arrived at a total budget of 8000 BEF, La Vie Sportive (LVS), June 9, 1908 and July 9, 1908.100. CitationCook, The Fourth Olympiad.101. LVS, July 9, 1908; CitationConstable, The IV Olympiad; CitationRenson, Enflammé, 39–40.102. Cook, The Fourth Olympiad, 791; Renson, Enflammé, 39–40.103. CitationSeeldrayers, Jeux Olympiques.104. Renson, Enflammé, 101–2.105. CitationDaniels, The XIV Olympiad; Renson, Enflammé.106. Also a silver medal in boxing and a bronze medal in fencing.107. CitationHampton, The Austerity Olympics, 204–5; Renson, Enflammé.108. Seeldrayers, Jeux Olympiques; Renson, Enflammé.109. See http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/competitive-sport-for-children-at-the-heart-of-olympics-legacy (August 11, 2012). See also The Guardian, August 12, 2012.110. The transnational history of cycling and bicycle racing will be further explored and analysed in the doctoral research of Stijn Knuts.Additional informationNotes on contributorsPascal DelheyePascal Delheye studied physical education, sport management and history at the Universities of Leuven and Lyon. In 2001, he obtained a PhD fellowship of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). His doctoral research, for which he won the Young Investigators Award of the European College of Sport Science in 2003, focused on the history of physical education and its origin as an academic discipline. After post-doctoral research at the Universities of Leuven and Berkeley, he became professor of sport history at KU Leuven in 2008.Stijn KnutsStijn Knuts studied cultural history at the University of Leuven, where he also obtained an additional master-title in comparative global history. He is currently working on a doctoral dissertation on the history of cycling and bicycle racing in Belgium between 1860 and 1940. His earlier publications focus on processes of local, regional and (sub)national identity formation through bicycle racing in early twentieth-century Belgium.Thomas AmeyeThomas Ameye studied physical education and sport management at the Universities of Leuven and Lyon. He is preparing a doctoral dissertation on the rise, evolution, institutionalisation and legitimisation of Olympism in Belgium. In 2006, he was laureate of the Postgraduate Research Grant Programme of the IOC's Olympic Studies Centre, and, in 2010, was awarded the Ian Buchanan Memorial Scholarship of the International Society of Olympic Historians. In May 2013, he became Director of the National Cycling Museum, Roeselare, Belgium.