The Dutch government dissolved the Netherlands Antilles as a political entity. (ATR) The breakup of the Netherlands Antilles as a political entity this week leaves many unanswered questions for the Olympic Movement in these five Caribbean islands, including the flag under which athletes will compete in London.
Remco Tevreden , director of the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee, tells Around the Rings that talks will continue next week with the International Olympic Committee and the Dutch Olympic committee at the Association of National Olympic Committees general assembly in Acapulco.
"We’re looking for a solution in the best interests of the athletes," Tevreden says. "We hope, as an Olympic committee, we made a strong case to maintain the status of both our national federations and our Olympic committee."
Although the islands of Curaçao and St. Maarten celebrated greater autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Oct. 10 — they will not be allowed to form their own NOCs. The rules of the Olympic Charter state that Olympic recognition is given only to independent countries.
"None at this moment are an independent country," Tevreden says. "We all stayed with our own Dutch passport and are still within the Dutch kingdom."
Under the new government structure, the islands of Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius will become Dutch municipalities.
The Olympic Charter had different rules in 1986 when Aruba broke away from the Netherlands Antilles and established its own NOC. Those rules changed in 1996.
Officials are considering three alternatives. First is to disband the NAOC and national federations and compete under the Dutch NOC, disband and compete under the NOC of Aruba, or continue as the Netherlands Antilles.
If the NAOC is disbanded, it would be the end of a long, proud tradition. The NAOC hopes to celebrate its 80th Anniversary next year and competed in its first Olympics in Helsinki in 1952.
"We have quite a history," Tevreden says, "and it would be a waste to close doors so our athletes can no longer compete in regional competitions."
Athletes from the Netherlands Antilles have always been eligible to compete with the Dutch team, and some have chosen that route. However, the NAOC cherished the right to form its own team.
When Churandy Martina, the sprinter from Curaçao who placed fourth in the 100 meters at the Beijing Olympic Games, announced his decision to compete for the Netherlands Antilles, "he got lots of respect and admiration," Tevreden says. "It would be a shame now due to political reasons that the Olympic committee would not exist and an athlete such as Martina would compete for the Netherlands."