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Document Details : Title: A Key Figure of the Interconnection between Religion, Ethics and Sport in Belgium Subtitle: Antoon Van Clé (1891-1955) Author(s): VANYSACKER, Dries Journal: Louvain Studies Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Date: 2022 Pages: 244-270 DOI: 10.2143/LS.45.3.3291395 Abstract : The Norbertine Antoon Van Clé (1891-1955) was one of the first people within the Belgian Church to concern himself systematically with the spiritual needs of professional sporters (especially cyclists). After an individual apostolate (1936/42), he surrounded himself with collaborators to take the wellbeing of professional sportspeople of all disciplines to heart. In 1943, a sort of apostolate council was convened for a meeting; from 1947 onwards, this association was called Sporta. Father Van Clé began to more actively help sportspeople, to defend their rights, and to assist them socially and morally. In 1949, local sections and regional activities were initiated. Van Clé introduced a monthly magazine, drawing attention to the excesses and abuses within the world of sport, such as the commercialisation of the Tour de France. After Van Clé’s death in 1955, Sporta was expanded: study and information services, a social service and a fair play club were founded. Through sport camps and youth holidays, Sporta annually reached 15,000 youngsters. Until this very day, Sportafederatie continues to safeguard the values of the world of sport: promoting fair play, engaging in the fight against drugs, and liberating sports from exaggerated commercialisation. It also defends the legal rights of professional and amateur sportspeople. This contribution draws attention to the figure of this almost forgotten Norbertine, including his original apostolate among the professional sportspeople (cyclists, pugilists and wrestlers) and contextualises this apostolate within the broader attitude of the Catholic Church toward professional sport, to explain why one can consider Van Clé as a key figure of the interconnection between religion, ethics and sport in Belgium. |
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