Belgium at the 1998 Winter Olympics
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| Belgium at the 1998 Winter Olympics | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| IOC code | BEL |
| NOC | Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee |
| Website | www |
| in Nagano | |
| Competitors | 1 in 1 sport |
| Flag bearer | Conrad Alleblas |
| Medals Ranked 22nd |
|
| Winter Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Belgium sent a delegation to compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan from 7–22 February 1998. The nation was represented by only one athlete, speed skater Bart Veldkamp. He won a bronze medal in the men's 5,000 metres race. With that bronze medal, Belgium finished in joint 22nd place on the medal table.
Belgium has been participating in the Olympic movement almost since the beginning, with their first appearance coming at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. They have competed in every Winter Olympic Games except for the 1960 and 1968 editions.[1] Coming into Nagano, they had won four medals in Winter Olympic competition, but none since the 1948 Winter Olympics.[1] The only Belgian representative to qualify for Nagano was speed skater Bart Veldkamp, who had previously won medals in the 10,000 metres race in both Albertville and Lillehammer.[2] Due the fact that Veldkamp was scheduled to compete in the 5,000 meter event the following day, and was the only athlete from Belgium at the games, his coach Conrad Alleblas, was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[3]
Medalists
| Medal | Name | Sport | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bronze[4] | Bart Veldkamp | Speed skating | Men's 5000 m | February 8 |
With one bronze medal, Belgium ranked a joint 22nd in the medal table.[5]