Paralympic Champions in the Main Program of the Fanny Blankers Koen Games on June 9, 2025

The Reggeborgh Foundation and FBK Games are joining forces to further strengthen Paralympic athletics in the Netherlands.
Thanks to this collaboration, the main program of the FBK Games will be expanded to include three Paralympic events:

• Women’s Shot Put (Class F40) – featuring Paralympic champion Lara Baars

• Men’s Long Jump (Class T61–T64) – featuring Paralympic champion and world record holder Joël de Jong

• Women’s 100 Meters (Class T13 and T61–T64) – featuring multi-Paralympic champion Fleur Jong

The Reggeborgh Foundation, known for its involvement in initiatives like the Reggeborgh Speed Skating Team and as the main sponsor of FC Twente Women, is committed to creating a healthier future for everyone through Corporate Social Responsibility. One way it does this is by investing in equal opportunities in sports. The idea for this partnership with para-athletics was actually sparked years ago by a newspaper article. Inge Wessels of the Reggeborgh Foundation explains: "My sister read an article about an initiative to create an Olympic park around the FBK Stadium, where Olympic champions could plant a tree in their name. Paralympic champions, however, were asked to share one tree between three of them. We found that surprising and unfair. It only strengthened our motivation to advocate for equality in sports. Para-athletes demonstrate how a disability can become a strength – that, despite challenges, ultimate goals can be achieved and full participation in society is possible. We are proud to support that, especially on such a prestigious international stage as the FBK Games, right here in our own region of Twente, where everything comes together.”

The FBK Games is the largest international athletics event in the Netherlands and holds Gold status within the World Athletics Continental Tour. It ranks among the top 20 athletics meetings worldwide. Inclusivity is a key value of the event. For years, prize money has been equal for men and women, and the organization actively works to ensure accessibility for all – including offering free tickets through a partnership with the municipality of Hengelo. Hans Kloosterman, Meeting Director of the FBK Games, says: "Thanks to our collaboration with the Reggeborgh Foundation, we can offer an integrated program where Paralympic events receive full attention. It’s especially meaningful that the long jump and shot put competitions will take place alongside those of able-bodied athletes – of course with separate classifications, but as part of the same event. How wonderful is it to see Lara Baars and Jessica Schilder compete side by side in the ring?”

Lara Baars is looking forward to competing at the FBK Games: "I’m really excited! I’ve attended once before as a spectator, and I already loved the atmosphere. That can only get better when I’m competing myself. I think it’s great that the FBK Games is showing how well Olympic and Paralympic events can be combined.”

The FBK Games is the only international top-level athletics meeting in the Netherlands and is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold – a prestigious series of thirteen events across five continents.
For all information, visit www.fbkgames.nl.