(ATR) Dutch Olympic committee president Andre Bolhuis tells Around the Rings the country’s investment in elite winter sports athletes has paid off in its record medal haul at the Sochi Games.
Winter sports leaders and the Dutch NOC had targeted winning nine medals, one more than Vancouver 2010, and two short of the 11 won at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
But the Dutch have hugely exceeded expectations, winning a staggering 24 medals – eight golds, seven silver and nine bronze – to become one of the most notable success stories of the 2014 Games.
Inevitably, all the medals have come in speedskating, with the Netherlands sweeping four events: the men's 500, 5,000 and 10,000 and the women's 1,500. Ireen Wust has won five medals - two gold and three silver - to become the most successful Dutch Olympian with a total of eight to her name. Sven Kramer was the pick of the male athletes, bagging two golds and a silver.
Of the 41-member Dutch team, the medals have been shared around the 20 skaters; the other athletes have participated without podium finishes in snow and sliding events.
At Vancouver 2010, the Dutch team of 34 athletes achieved only the eight medals.
Bolhuis told ATR he was delighted with the Dutch team’s unprecedented success at the Olympics. The country, which boasts a population of only 16.5 million, finished fifth in the medals table.
"We worked very hard for three years and focused on sports we could get results in and that’s what pays off now," he said.He attributed the Dutch success to "the focus we bring in our elite sports".
"We don’t support so many, we support a few but better and more and I think that’s what brings success."
A huge ‘Welkom Thuis’ (welcome home) party is planned on Monday in Assen when the Dutch team and officials return to the Netherlands.Big crowds are expected to line the streets and the main square in the northern Dutch city for the celebration party when the athletes will take to the stage.On Tuesday, another party is planned in The Hague.
Asked if the Sochi 2014 success would lead to more financing for athletes competing at the PyeongChang Olympics, Bolhuis said a spike in funding for the Netherlands’ winter sports athletes may not be necessary.
He said it the Dutch success was based on "the way you spend and focus on how you spend".
Bolhuis also paid tribute to the Sochi 2014 organisers, saying the Dutch team and officials had been made to feel welcome in a "very good atmosphere".
Having been to 14 Summer and Winter Olympics, he said the Sochi Games was one of the best.
"The Russians have organized a perfect Games… very, very impressed the way they did their job, not only the venues and quality of all facilities but the quality of the organization," he added.
Referencing the troubled build-up to the Sochi Games when security issues and Russia’s anti-gay law sparked negative global headlines, Bolhuis said Games organisers had done well to brush off the controversies to concentrate on staging good Games"You have to admire the Russians doing a job for the athletes and spectators. Security? It doesn’t give a problem," he said.
Written by Mark Bisson.
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