Olympic hopeful turns to crowdfunding
Bart Swings, a world champion bronze medal holder in speed skating and one of Belgium’s hopes for a medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year, has turned to the public for help raising the money he needs to keep training. Together with his manager, he has set up a website outlining his requirements and inviting members of the public to contribute.
Donations are accepted from as little as €1.50 via SMS to €2,500, which gives the donor the right to a VIP ticket for the skating world cup next March in the Netherlands, a T-shirt, cycling jersey and a mention in the programme.
“Because of budget constraints, we’re constantly having to puzzle out who can go along to what competitions,” explained Swings (pictured) in an interview with De Standaard. “At the world championships all-around in Norway, I had no physiotherapist, and there wasn’t enough money to take on my technical coach full time. At the highest level of the sport, that’s just not OK.”
Swings hopes to raise up to €400,000 to pay for necessities like clothing, equipment and travel costs.
www.steunbartswings.be
