Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Flandrien Scholarship Program website operated by the Flandrien Association ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, services, and the Flandrien Scholarship Program.

By accessing our website, submitting an application, making a donation, or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our website or services.

These Terms are governed by Belgian law and comply with applicable European Union regulations.

2. About Us

Note: Please update the contact information above with actual details.

3. Services Provided

The Flandrien Association operates an international development program that provides:

• Scholarship opportunities for cyclists to live, train, and race in Belgium
• Fully subsidized accommodation at the Flandrien Hotel
• Access to world-class training routes and facilities
• Mentoring and coaching support
• Personal development programs
• Cultural immersion experiences
• Racing opportunities and exposure

The scholarship program is subject to availability, funding, and selection criteria. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the program at any time.

4. Eligibility

To be eligible for the Flandrien Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a cyclist from any country who is not a resident of Belgium or the Netherlands at the time of application
• Be at least 19 years old at the time of the scholarship stay
• Be no older than 26 years old (men) or 36 years old (women) at the time of application
• Hold a valid UCI racing license
• Have at least 2 years of road-racing experience
• Commit to a minimum continuous stay of 6 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks
• Demonstrate motivation, community spirit, responsibility, and a positive attitude

Preference is given to riders from underrepresented regions, including Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. We particularly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups in cycling.

We reserve the right to verify eligibility requirements and may request additional documentation or information at any stage of the application process.

5. Application Process

The application process consists of the following stages:

1. Online Application: Submit the application form with required information. You will receive a response within 48 hours confirming eligibility for an interview.
2. Initial Interview: A conversation to learn about you, your goals, and your cycling journey.
3. Personality Assessment: An online diagnostic to understand how you think, collaborate, and problem-solve. This is not a pass/fail test but helps us support you better.
4. Final Interview: Review of your assessment and discussion of how the scholarship aligns with your athletic and personal development.

Successful applicants will receive an official acceptance letter. All decisions are final and at the sole discretion of the Flandrien Association. We are not obligated to provide reasons for rejection.

6. User Obligations

By using our services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information in your application
• Maintain the confidentiality of any login credentials or access codes
• Use our website and services only for lawful purposes
• Respect the rights of other users and participants
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not engage in any activity that could harm, disable, or impair our website or services
• Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or data
• Not use our services to transmit viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Respect intellectual property rights
• Conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner during the scholarship program

Violation of these obligations may result in immediate termination of your application, scholarship, or access to our services.

7. Scholarship Terms

Selected scholars agree to:

• Commit to the full duration of the scholarship period (minimum 6 weeks, maximum 12 weeks)
• Participate actively in training, mentoring, and program activities
• Maintain appropriate conduct and respect for other participants, staff, and facilities
• Comply with all program rules, safety guidelines, and hotel policies
• Provide their own travel, insurance, equipment, and race entry fees (unless otherwise specified)
• Obtain and maintain appropriate travel and health insurance
• Hold a valid UCI racing license throughout the scholarship period
• Participate in program evaluations and provide feedback when requested

The Flandrien Association reserves the right to terminate a scholarship at any time if a scholar violates these terms, engages in misconduct, or fails to meet program expectations.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, and software, is the property of the Flandrien Association or its licensors and is protected by Belgian and international copyright and trademark laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works, publicly display, or commercially exploit any content without our prior written permission.

By submitting content (including application materials, photos, videos, or testimonials), you grant the Flandrien Association a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content for promotional, educational, and program-related purposes.

You represent that you have the right to grant this license and that your content does not infringe any third-party rights.

9. Donations

Donations to the Flandrien Scholarship Program are voluntary and non-refundable unless required by law. All donations are used to support the scholarship program and its participants.

Payment processing is handled by secure third-party payment providers. We do not store complete payment card information on our servers.

Donors may be eligible for tax deductions under Belgian law. Please consult with a tax advisor for specific information about tax benefits.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Belgian law:

• The Flandrien Association provides the website and services "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
• We do not guarantee that the website will be error-free, secure, or continuously available.
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our website or services.
• Our total liability for any claims related to our services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us (if any) in the 12 months preceding the claim.
• We are not responsible for injuries, accidents, or damages that occur during cycling activities, training, or races. Participants engage in these activities at their own risk and are responsible for obtaining appropriate insurance.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under Belgian law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Flandrien Association, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of our services, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of another party.

12. Privacy

Your use of our website and services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data. By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of information as described in our Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy for more information.

13. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to our website and services at any time, with or without cause or notice, for any reason, including:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Misconduct or behavior that harms our reputation or other participants
• Failure to comply with program requirements

Upon termination, your right to use our services will immediately cease. We may delete your account and data, subject to our Privacy Policy and legal obligations.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Belgium, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Belgium. However, if you are a consumer resident in the European Union, you may also bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute, we encourage you to contact us first to seek an amicable resolution. You can reach us at [Contact email to be provided].

For consumers in the European Union, the European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.

We are not obligated to participate in alternative dispute resolution procedures, but we are committed to resolving disputes fairly and promptly.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our website or services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using our services and may request deletion of your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable, or if modification is not possible, it shall be severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Flandrien Association regarding your use of our website and services, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

19. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: