Netherlands at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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Netherlands at the Olympic Games

Flag of the Netherlands
IOC code	NED
NOC	Nederlands Olympisch Comité * Nederlandse Sport Federatie external link (Dutch)

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

Competitors

Medals

Gold
0

Silver
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Bronze
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Total
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Olympic history (summary)

Summer Games

1896 • 1900 • 1904 • 1908 • 1912 • 1920 • 1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008

Winter Games

1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1994 • 1998 • 2002 • 2006

The Netherlands will compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. This was announced in an official statement on the NOC*NSF website.^[1] In the statement they name the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games a highlight in sports to which a lot of sportspeople, coaches and the Dutch sports fans will look forward to. The Netherlands aim for a top 10 nations ranking in the Olympics as well as a top 25 ranking in the Paralympics.^[1]

Further in the statement they announce that they are aware of the political discussions about human rights and other issues in the People's Republic of China and that they encourage these discussions, but that they will only participate in sports related discussions.^[1] They say individual sportspeople, coaches and managers might have their words about the issues but these will always be said in a personal matter and from their own social responsibilities and thoughts.^[1] They believe sports activities do have the opportunity to positively influence the situation in the People's Republic of China when it comes to implementing the sports rules correctly as well as in situations to improving the levels of respect, solidarity and fair play in sports.^[1]

[edit] Ambassadors

The NOC*NSF has announced a total of eleven sportspeople as their official ambassadors in the period towards, during and after the Olympic year 2008 until December 31 of that year.^[2] The ambassadors that were chosen are all athletes who have a good chance of qualifying for the actual Olympics or who already achieved qualification individually or with their team.^[2] They are a mixture of men, women, individual sportspeople, team sportspeople, Olympians and Paralympians. Chefs de Mission will be Charles van Commenée (Olympics) and Thea Limbach (Paralympics).^[2]

The eleven ambassadors are:

Anky van Grunsven, Equestrian, 2 times gold and 4 times silver at previous Olympics, 2 times World and 4 times European champion.
Edith Bosch, Judoka, 2004 Summer Olympics silver medallist, World champion and double European champion.
Kees Luyckx, Footballer.
Kenny van Weeghel, Wheeler, 2004 Summer Paralympics gold, silver and bronze medallist, 4 times World and 3 times European champion.
Lobke Berkhout, Sailor, triple 470-class World champion together with De Koning.
Marcelien de Koning, Sailor, triple 470-class World champion together with Berkhout.
Marije Smits, Paralympic runner and long jumper, 2002 World champion in long jumping.
Marleen Veldhuis, Swimmer, 2004 Summer Olympics bronze medallist, 2 times World and 11 times European champion.
Minke Booij, Field hockey player, silver and bronze at previous Olympics, World champion and triple European champion.
Rutger Smith, Discus thrower and shot putter, silver (shot put) and bronze (discus) medallist at World championships.
Theo Bos, Track cyclist, 2004 Summer Olympics silver medallist, 5 times World and 3 times European champion.

[edit] Qualified athletes

The following athletes have already qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[3]

[edit] Archery

The Netherlands will send archers to the Olympics for the ninth time. Femke Boonen and Coby Hurkmans have earned the nation two women's spots by placing 21st and 33rd, respectively, at the 2007 World Outdoor Target Championships.^[4] Ron van der Hoff placed third at the European qualifying tournament, giving the Netherlands its only spot in the men's individual competition.^[5]

[edit] Baseball

Men's baseball team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

The qualification criteria for baseball were the same as the international standards. For European countries the first ranked team at the 2007 European Championship would qualify directly, while the second and third ranked teams would qualify for an extra qualification round.^[6]^[7] The Dutch team became first in the European Championship, securing their spot in Beijing.^[8]

[edit] Field hockey

Men's field hockey team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

Women's field hockey team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

The qualification criteria for field hockey were the same as the international standards. For European countries the first three ranked teams at the 2007 European Championships would qualify directly, while the fourth until eighth ranked ranked teams would qualify for an extra qualification round, of which only the winners of three qualification tournaments would qualify.^[9]^[10] The Dutch men's team became first in the European Championship, while the women's team became second in their Championship, both teams securing their spot in Beijing.^[11]

[edit] Football

Men's football team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

The qualification criteria for football were the same as the international standards. For male European countries the first four ranked teams at the 2007 European Under-21 Championship would qualify. ^[12]^[13] The Dutch men's team became first in the European under-21 Championship, claiming their second consecutive title and securing their spot in Beijing.^[14]

[edit] Judo

Edith Bosch - women's -70kg
Ruben Houkes - men's -60kg
Mark Huizinga - men's -90kg
Elisabeth Willeboordse - women's -63kg

To qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics Dutch judokas should accomplish both the international (set by the IOC and IJF) and the Dutch criteria (set by the NOC*NSF).^[15]^[16]

On January 26, 2008 Elisabeth Willeboordse was the first judoka to secure her spot in Beijing. She proved to remain among the World's top ranked judokas by winning her fifth consecutive World Cup in Sofia.^[17] Two days later Edith Bosch qualified herself on by retaining her form as well, reaching the final of the World Cup in Sofia.^[18] On February 9 World Champion Ruben Houkes secured his spot by retaining his form finishing among the best 7 in the Super World Cup in Paris.^[19] The next day Mark Huizinga qualified for his fourth consecutive Olympics as he finished in fifth position at the same event in Paris.^[20]

[edit] Sailing

Lobke Berkhout - women's 470 class (with De Koning)
Kalle Coster - men's 470 class (with Sven Coster)
Sven Coster - men's 470 class (with Kalle Coster)
Marcelien de Koning - women's 470 class (with Berkhout)
Pieter-Jan Postma - finn class

To qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics Dutch sailors should accomplish both the international (set by the IOC and ISAF) and the Dutch criteria (set by the NOC*NSF).^[21]^[22]

The first two boats to qualify for the Olympics were the women's 470 of Lobke Berkhout and Marcelien de Koning and the finn of Pieter-Jan Postma. Berkhout and De Koning who are triple and 2007 World champions in their class secured their spot by becoming sixth in the Pre Olympic tournament in Qingdao on August 22, 2007, enough to prove they remained in form.^[23] Postma who won silver at the 2007 World Championships in the finn class also qualified during the Pre Olympic tournament by finishing in second position again where a top 6 ranking would already have been enough to qualify.^[24] Brothers Sven and Kalle Coster qualified themselves in the 470 class after the 2008 World Championships in which they finished in 12th position. As they had already accomplished the international standards, already received a Dutch nomination and that no other Dutch team is expected to challenge them they were selected to sail at the Olympics.^[25]

[edit] Softball

Women's softball team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

The qualification criteria for softball were the same as the international standards. A spot in the semi finals at the 2006 World Championships would be enough to qualify straight away. The Dutch didn't succeed and had to enter the Afican/European qualification tournament to secure their spot. Only the winner of the tournament, which became the Dutch who qualified for the Olympics. ^[26]^[27]^[28]

[edit] Swimming

In a situation at individual distances with more than two athletes who have reached the qualification standards the two fastest athletes as of March 26, 2008 will be qualified.^[29]

Robin van Aggele - men's 200m medley, 4x100m medley relay
Linda Bank - women's 4x200m freestyle relay
Inge Dekker - women's 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay
Nick Driebergen - men's 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay
Chantal Groot - women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Femke Heemskerk - women's 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay
Pieter van den Hoogenband - men's 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 4x100m medley relay
Saskia de Jonge - women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Ranomi Kromowidjojo - women's 50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
Robert Lijesen - men's 4x100m medley relay
Manon van Rooijern - women's 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay
Hinkelien Schreuder - women's 50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
Lennart Stekelenburg - men's 4x100m medley relay
Marleen Veldhuis - women's 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
Joeri Verlinden - men's 4x100m medley relay
Mitja Zastrow - men's 4x100m medley relay

To qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics Dutch swimmers accomplish both the international (set by the IOC and FINA) and the Dutch criteria (set by the NOC*NSF), which means only swimming the international A standard qualifies an athlete for the Olympics. In case a swimmer swam the A standard in 2007 he or she received a nomination and had to swim at least the B standard in 2008 to secure the qualification.^[30]^[31] In the case that more than two swimmers qualify for the same distance (Kromowidjojo, Schreuder and Veldhuis at the 50m freestyle) the two fastest at the qualification deadline will be selected.

[edit] Table tennis

Li Jiao - women's singles

To qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics Dutch table tennis players should accomplish both the international (set by the IOC and ITTF) and the Dutch criteria (set by the NOC*NSF).^[32]^[33] Li Jiao qualified herself in January 2008 when she was selected by the ITTF as one of the top 20 players in the World.^[34]

[edit] Taekwondo

Dennis Bekkers - men's -68kg

To qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics Dutch taekwondo practitioners should accomplish both the international (set by the IOC and WTF) and the Dutch criteria (set by the NOC*NSF).^[35]^[36] Dennis Bekkers became third in the qualification tournament in Istanbul which secured the Netherlands an Olympic ticket. As no other Dutch athlete has come close to qualification only an injury will prevent Bekkers from taking part in the Olympics.^[37]

[edit] Water polo

Women's water polo team

Squad to be announced at a later stage

The qualification criteria for water polo were the same as the international standards. ^[38]^[39] The Dutch women's team became first at the European qualification tournament in Kirishi by beating the host nation Russia in the final.^[40]

[edit] Nominations

The following athletes have already received a nomination after reaching the A standard in 2007 and have to show their consistancy in reaching at least the B standard in 2008 and/or outperforming their opponents who are participating in the same events.^[41]

[edit] Artistic Gymnastics

~~Yuri van Gelder - men's rings~~

Jeffrey Wammes - men's horizontal bar
Epke Zonderland - men's horizontal bar

Yuri van Gelder was a candidate for the last wildcard for the Olynpic games, but this wildcard was given to Nashwan Al-Harazi from Jemen

[edit] Athletics

Laurien Hoos - women's heptathlon
Jolanda Keizer - women's heptathlon
Lornah Kiplagat - women's marathon
Kamiel Maase - men's marathon
Karin Ruckstuhl - women's heptathlon
Gregory Sedoc - men's 110m hurdles
Rutger Smith - discus throw and shot put

[edit] Beach volleyball

Emiel Boersma - men's beach volleyball (with B. Ronnes)
Jochem de Gruijter - men's beach volleyball (with G. Ronnes)
Rebekka Kadijk - women's beach volleyball (with Mooren)
Merel Mooren - women's beach volleyball (with Kadijk)
Reinder Nummerdor - men's beach volleyball (with Schuil)
Bram Ronnes - men's beach volleyball (with Boersma)
Gijs Ronnes - men's beach volleyball (with De Gruijter)
Richard Schuil - men's beach volleyball (with Nummerdor)

[edit] BMX

Raymond van der Biezen - men's BMX
Willy Kanis - women's BMX
Martijn Scherpen - men's BMX
Robert de Wilde - men's BMX
Rob van den Wildenberg - men's BMX

[edit] Canoeing

Ariane Herde - women's C-1

[edit] Equestrian

Netherlands national dressage team - dressage
Netherlands national eventing team - eventing
Netherlands national show jumping team - show jumping