Let's spark together.

March 2023

Exactly 18 months ago I took a giant leap of faith, by leaving Decathlon’s head office in Evere. What an adventure those 13 years had been! An adventure with so many different emotions. 

Trying new things and failing, but always getting back up again. Learning. Growing. Always surrounded by wonderful people, who believed in me and supported me. I am so grateful to have had this great learning experience.

Vitality. Sincerity. Responsibility. And generosity. I was able to witness Decathlon’s (then still rather modest) values being applied every day. In stores all across the world. 

In all honesty, it was something I really needed in 2009.  I was 22 years old and applied for a job at Decathlon Antwerp after I had just visited them with my brother Yannick Renier . 

There, I found a warm nest. A place that allows you to make mistakes. Where there was no need to pretend. A family. Because that’s exactly what Decathlon Belgium has always been to me. 

But Decathlon is more than that. Having grown into a giant, it is what I would now call a management institute. One that was already way ahead of its time 20 years ago. 

And that has only advanced in recent years. Of course, it still has some rough edges here and there, and things do not always go exactly as planned. But when that happens, it owns its mistakes and always tries to contribute to a better, more inclusive society.

Vitality. Sincerity. Responsibility. Generosity. I was able to witness Decathlon’s (then still rather modest) values being applied every day. In stores all across the world. 

I would also like to give a shout out to the head office DECATHLON FRANCE . I made numerous friends at Decathlon Football and many other Decathlon Passion Brands, especially during those last few ‘Vision Years’.

There are so many people I was fortunate enough to work with. Know that I admire every single one of you. 

Thank you for your smiles. Your passion. And above all your always so supportive shoulders. 

Now, almost 15 years later, I am looking forward to a new chapter. And what a chapter it will be. At least, that’s what I believe and feel.

With Sparkx, we are opening a new, innovative and inclusive sportainment park. Bringing 50 sports together under one roof (sounds familiar? 😉).

The park’s purpose and mission is to improve the well-being across generations, by bringing people and sports together through pleasant and innovative experiences.

We not only aim to connect generations by making sports more accessible, but also want to offer fanatical athletes some really thrilling experiences. 

At the same time, we invite people to discover a variety of sports. So (young) talents can grow into the best version of themselves and lay a healthy (or healthier) foundation for their futures.

And last - but certainly not least - we want to shine a bright light on mental well-being. Because that too is an essential way to contribute to society, we believe. Although, there will be room for some delicious guilty pleasures at Sparkx, our main focus is health, in all senses of the word. So you’ll find our healthy F&B range, but also activities that focus on mental connections.

We aim to connect people & sports.

We are just getting started, and as we are not perfect, we will make many mistakes along the way. Please do not hesitate to give us your feedback, this will only make our project stronger and will be highly appreciated.

I wanted to share this wonderful news because it would be marvelous to welcome you at Sparkx.

To play sports. Party. Contemplate. Or just have a chat together.

Because the network always wins.

Big hug,

Mathieu

Thanks Linus Van Praet , Kris Verduyn , Robin D'Joos , Daan Borghijs & Kristof. For welcoming me in 2009. 

Thanks, Bart Ongenaet , Bart Standaert , Wim Devos , Raphaël Mathonet & Jeroen Depypere . For challenging me back in the days.

Thanks Gregory Crucifix . For our wonderful time in Olen.

Thanks team Decathlon Maasmechelen and our loyal friend, Davio ✨. For working, laughing en crying together.

Thank you Thibaut Peeters . For showing me the way at the HQ and your daily passion.

Thank you Herman Van Beveren . For your analytical skills & daily laughter.

Thank you Koen Damman , Jo Van Dessel Olivier Scouvemont Pieter Rutten Jeroen Vanmalcot Wim Van Hoecke Luk De Meester Christophe Pape Vincent Chabot Bram Candries Benchy Pelgrims Gauthier Rousselle Wouter Eloot Stéphane Ratazzi Nicolas Deltenre Charles-Emmanuel Nelis Geoffrey Cassenaer Stijn Van Damme Félix Cambier Frederic De Clerck Frédéric Sterckx Romuald Saenen Thomas Lejeune Debarre Olivier Flament Julie Nevejan Gauthier Wyngaard Yannick Bonnast Olivier Cioe Erik Aerts Raf Coenen Koen Tengrootenhuysen Katrien Wuytack Joris Mareen Thomas Lefere Amaury Keusters Tim Van der Mensbrugghe Karel Van Beveren Kai Janssen Bohdan Lamon Diego Lacroix Louise Chekroun maarten corremans Kai Janssen BENOIT DELVAUX Yannick Belvaux Jérémy Pauliat and many more. All of you. For teaching me every you did.

Thank you Frederic Boistard Jérémie SIINO Cécile Mousset Sylvain Tilly Antoine LE CUZIAT Benoit Fray William LYSZLIEWICZ Emmanuel CASTIGLIONI William Lanigan Franck DEMARET Anaïs Mikulaniec Vincenzo Verhoeven Maarten Vermote and all other members of the remarkable Kipsta-HQ in Villeneuve d’Ascq/Tourcoing. You are doing a powerful job.

Thank you team International Vision 2030 and especially Charlie Felgate , Nathan Goddefroy Sophie Criquelion Jens De Boeck Blondet- Gonté Isabelle . For your love, warmth and support. You are in my heart.

Thank you Franck Vigo Romain M. Olivier CAMPION HELENE le cottier bonnave Patrick Dargent Olivier DUBAND , (my dear) Xavier R ✨ and the whole Mulliez family. For your help, support & giving Sparkx the chance to grow.

Thank you Faustino Rabasot . For your belief.

Thank you Fabien DERVILLE . For being the man you are.

Thank you to our supporters (if not mentioned, you know who you are) and mirrors who’re taking care of our new baby, our Sparkx Belgium.

Steven Van Belleghem Peter Hinssen mousa dembele Ann Wauters Hannelore Vens Rob Van Impe Seppe Smits Thomas Briels Félix Denayer Nick Celis Karim Bachar ianka fleerackers Anthony Kumpen Maarten Breckx Loena Hendrickx Jorik Hendrickx Marc Herremans Lieven Maesschalck Jean-Marc Mwema Patrick Keusters Benoit Loos Vincent Maldague Dimitri Leemans Wim Moons Philip Lahey Dirk Wauters Steven Vandeput BNP Paribas Ann Baptist Jo Peeters VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Tim Spiessens Sport Vlaanderen Kris De Coorde Stad Hasselt KCC Entertainment Design Ocular Corda INCubator Roel Mentens Raf Degens Hogeschool PXL HOWEST Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen Voka - Kamer van Koophandel Limburg Gilles Naeyaert Cobelpro Belgium & Luxembourg Bart Tans Mathieu Verheecke Devoteam Laurent Parmentier KU Leuven UZ Leuven Gert-Jan Bakx Gert Van Assche VDAB Yannick Verrycke Frédérique Joos Laura Rosseel Jasper Willems BERT VAN INGELGHEM Ethnicraft Eefje Battel ☀️🚴🏻♀️Charlotte Van Tuyckom🚴🏻♀️☀️ Annelies Van Oost Tim Paridaens Michele Gabriel Dries Van den Cruyce Patrick Hermans steven putzeys Reinoud Van Assendelft de Coningh Jos Verschueren Axel Smits Zoë Vanden Brande SD Worx Belgium Bonka Circus I Purpose driven communication Iris Warnants Julie Proesmans Klaas Gaublomme Lana Partous ZIGT Bepublic Group Sofie Santermans Bert Bouserie The Other Agency Pieter Aertgeerts Nina Troch Like Minds Sam De Cock Jonas Winand Paul Verbist Alexandre Ramos Tim Migom Thomas Van Halewyck Vincent Wauters Alberto W. Mucci 2Lite (Twilight Zone) bvba Merger Archimedes Architecture eeetwell and so many others.

Thank you to my wonderful teammates, their patient partners & lovely children, Faust Govaert Jolien Vanhooydonck Cindy Parent Stefanie Poels Michiel van Schaik Vangenechten, Kathinca Anja Swinnen Joyce Thys Wim Verreyken An Pittoors Anthony Keusters Julie Van Heetvelde Rense Carremans Max Exelmans & stijn geens . For taking every step together. Our journey isn’t always easy, but having you by my side makes me feel confident and safe. 

And finally: thank you Roxanne Hendrickx . For being a wonderful mother, supporter & partner. I love you. ❤️

To all of you: a new chapter has begun. I will keep you posted about our journey and our future opening. 🙏

Hope to welcome you all soon.

Let’s spark together. 💥

Mathieu

P.S.

For more info : info@sparkx.com

For early bird group reservations : reservaties@sparkx.com

For joining our family : jobs@sparkx.com