Edegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Edegem’s sports hall is implementing a new access system with badges, codes, and cameras, replacing on-site staff and volunteer guards. Alderman Koen Michiels (N-VA) aims to improve security and user responsibility, with testing starting March 1, 2025, and a permanent system planned for autumn.
The local sports hall is getting a new access system. Alderman for Sports Koen Michiels (N-VA) shared this news after the sports staff moved to the leisure centre. There will no longer be staff at the hall. Instead, safety will rely on badge access, cameras, and entry codes. The main door will stay open, but some areas will be closed off based on who can enter.
According to officials, club trainers will get badges to access the sports halls and changing rooms they booked. This system allows club members to use the facilities while keeping restricted areas safe. They mentioned that badges and cameras will help monitor the hall without needing staff present all the time.
“The sports department staff is now in the leisure centre but no longer in the sports hall itself,”
Explains Alderman for Sports Koen Michiels (N-VA).
Is Edegem’s sports hall access system the future of security?
Athletes who want to rent a hall will use a new system. Instead of a badge, they will get a special access code for their booking. This code lets them unlock doors with their smartphone. It ensures they can only enter the areas they reserved. The municipality mentioned that this system is easy to use and keeps the place safe by stopping unauthorized access. The municipality wants to manage the facility better while keeping it secure.
Before, employees from the sports department watched over the sports hall, ensuring that only the right people could enter and that the hall was used properly. Now, with the new badge and digital access system, those workers will have different jobs.
According to the alderman for Sports Koen Michiels (N-VA), no jobs will be lost. Even though staff won’t be at the hall anymore, security will still be there with cameras. Club trainers will use badges, and athletes will use codes to enter.
On weekends, volunteer guards used to help watch over the sports hall, but that will change. A new access control system will start testing on March 1, 2025. This trial will check for any problems with the system. The sports department wants to gather feedback and make changes if needed.
They mentioned that if the test is successful, they plan to make the system permanent by autumn. This step-by-step approach will help ensure the change goes smoothly and fix any issues before it becomes the main way to manage access and security.
“We will make users more responsible for the use of their sports hall.”
Koen Michiels (N-VA), Alderman for Sports
Alderman Koen Michiels believes this will help keep the sports hall clean and in good condition. Athletes and club members will need to take care of the space and use the equipment properly. He mentioned that the new system will also make security better. There will be security cameras watching the hall all the time. Before, there were no cameras, and guards were not always there.
Edegem will help users learn about the new access system by offering guided tours. These tours will show how to use badges for trainers and how athletes can access the hall with their smartphones. Users will also see where the security cameras are placed.
The Sports Council will share this information with the community and answer any questions. They mentioned that if the trial is successful, the new system will make the sports hall safer and may inspire other places to use similar systems.
