As a consequence, in January 2011 the IOC Executive Board took the decision to propose to the IOC Session in Durban this week to withdraw IOC recognition from the Olympic Committee of the Netherlands Antilles. This Olympic Committee (NAOC) was founded in 1931 and received Olympic recognition in 1950. Aruba was part of this Olympic Committee until 1986, when they stepped out of the Netherlands Antilles and got their own Olympic Committee, recognized by the IOC. This was possible due to the then effective Olympic Charter. In 1996 however, the IOC changed their Charter, demanding that countries first needed to be an independent state, in order to receive Olympic recognition.

As none of the five islands comply with this, the IOC Executive Board decided in January 2011 that none of them could get Olympic recognition, similar to Aruba.

The IOC session, currently taking place in Durban (South Africa) will not only withdraw the recognition of the Olympic Committee of the Netherlands Antilles, but also approve that the athletes from the islands are eligible to participate in the Olympic Games 2012, as independent athletes under the Olympic flag.

After 2012 the athletes will fall under the jurisdiction of the Olympic Committee of either Aruba or the Netherlands, as they all have the same Dutch passport.

With these expected decisions the international Olympic movement, consisting out 204 Olympic Committees will lose one of its oldest members in the Caribbean. It is therefore that the Central American and Caribbean Sport Organization (CACSO) consisting out 32 Olympic Committees sent a letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge, asking him to reconsider the decisions. They refer to other similar situations like Hong Kong, who underwent a similar political change, but remained with Olympic recognition.

NAOC president Mr. William Millerson did everything he could to get a similar status as Hong Kong. “It is very disappointing that the long-term interest of our athletes was not considered. Our Olympic history goes back 60 years, having won one Silver Olympic medal (1988) and one Bronze medal in the Youth Olympics (2010). Our sports development is in danger, as it is practically impossible for our athletes to represent Holland in Europe, 9000 km across the Atlantic Ocean. We don’t have the structure or the funds to realize this.”

The aim of this participation was to prepare on a high level, towards the qualifying competition in Peru for the PANAM 2011 Games.

Lianne Muller

This day was Lianne’s day to compete. With about 31 athletes in the bantam division she had to win 5 times to get the gold medal. The first round she got a “bye “, which means she won her first fight without having to fight.  Her first fight was against USA. The first round she scored 1 point with a round kick. The second round she did not score, but received 2 “kiongo’s “(deduction points) which produced 1 point for the USA. Round 3 ended with a score of 1-1. They had to go the 4th round. This round is called Sudden Death or Golden Point round. Who ever scores the first point, wins the match.

Lianne scored the first point with a round kick to the chest protector and won the match. She was coached by Julio Cesar from Argentina, her trainer in Mexico.

She received multiple injuries on her legs and thighs and admitted she was not feeling well during the fight. She got ill during her trainingscamp in Monterrey and did not fully recover. She had fever, headache, was coughing a lot and blood came through her mouth when she was in Mexico. This was also clearly seen in the way she fought; she did not have much strength. She was coughing during the fight and this prevented her from fighting at her best.

The second fight was against Mexico. This fighter is in the Mexican National Team. Lianne scored the first point. The second round was with a lot of action, were Lianne scored for more points. Her opponent was attacking furiously but could not score. Lianne got 2 kiongo’s . Round two ended 5-1 in favour of Lianne. In the third round, Lianne was out of breath. She was coughing during the fight due to not being fully recovered. Here she received a few more kiongo’s for grabbing and falling. The score was 3-5 still in favour of Lianne. But just 5 seconds remaining, her opponent lifted her leg to the head and the referees scored it. The fight ended 5-6 in favour of Mexico.  She was coached by her brother Audy Muller

She finished finally 4th.

Audy Muller

Audy’s weight category is – 58 kg. This division is new to him and he had to get used to it. He was coached by Julio Cesar all his 3 matches. There were 31 fighters in this pool.

First fight was against USA. USA scored the first point with a punch to the chest. Audy scored back immediately with a round kick to the chest. The fight had a lot of action. USA was constantly attacking, after receiving an axe kick to the head by Audy. This produced 3 points for Audy. USA mainly attacked and Audy mainly countered. USA never gave up and was fighting till the very end, but could only score 2 points. The fight ended 2-6 in favour of Audy. Nevertheless it was not an easy fight. Had Audy gotten comfortable he could have lost the fight.

Second fight was against Mexico. This opponent was also from the national team. Both fighters were fighting with a lot of spirit. Neither one of them backed off. Audy was very focused and managed to score 3 points. The opponent was good too and also scored 3 points.

Round 3 ended with score of 3-3 and they had to go to round 4. In round four Audy scored the first point with a back kick to the chest. He won his second fight.

Third and most difficult fight. This time it was time to face the Brazilian Marcio Perreira. A world known athlete. Pan AM champion 2010 , Military World Champion 2010, World Champion , Olympics 2008 4th finisher and 4th in Taekwondo world ranking 2010 just to name a few of his accomplishments. So it was winner of the Pan AM 2010 (- 58 kg) against winner of the Pan AM 2008 (- 54 kg).

In the first round both fighters showed a lot of respect towards each other. They used round 1 to study each other. Marcio scored the first point with a round kick. The second round had more action with both fighters trying to score. Neither one backed off. Marcio attacked furiously to the head, but Audy dashed his kicks, trying to score too. He could not score, but showed attitude and fighting spirit trough out the match. Marcio was very fast and managed to kick Audy to the head. This produced 3 points for the Brazilian athlete. Audy attacked with different kicks and jumping kicks but did not score. Fight 3 ended with a score of 6-1 in favour of Brazil.

Had Audy won this fight, he would have received a bronze medal. He finished fourth. Marcio fought twice after that and won the gold medal in this division.

Richenel Eleonora (masseur) and Dayen Muller (team leader) supported both our athletes.

Audy  and Lianne are now back home in Curacao and are preparing for the qualification for the PanAmerican Games.

Virgin Islander Ian Barrows sailed to gold in the boy’s Byte CII class. His score of 44 points gave him a 16-point margin of victory over Germany’s Florian Haufe, who claimed silver.
Just van Aanholt made it two Caribbean nation medals on the podium and was proud of his experience in Singapore.

“I feel very happy, at one moment I was looking back all the time, I’m just very happy. I think I’m going to celebrate with all my friends.” “The Caribbean sailors are having a very good generation!”

(Quotes from www.sailing.org)

The 2010 medalwinners are:

2x GOLD-Athletics: Churandy Martina (100m & 200m)

3x SILVER-Swimming: Rodion Davelaar
Karate: Marisca Verspaget
Boxing: Benjey Zimmerman

2x BRONZE:
Sailing: Ard van Aanholt
Track & Field 4x100m: Prince Kwidama-Curtis Kock-Brian Mariano-Churandy Martina

With the 7 medals (2 gold-3 silver-2 bronze) the AHO Team finished overall on the 13th place. It can be concluded that NAOC consolidated their position, as four years ago during the CAC Games 2006 (Cartagena-Colombia) the team also finished on the 13th place with 4 medals.(2 gold-1 silver – 1 bronze)

Pictures of the Team welcome ceremony

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Teamsports

1. Baseball
2. Softball
3. Fieldhockey
4. Waterpolo

Individual sports

1. Track & Field
2. Swimming
3. Shooting
4. Bowling
5. Karate
6. Judo
7. Taekwondo
8. Sailing
9. Boxing
10. Tennis

There are totally 15 countries participating in this Olympic event.

During his three-day visit, the President visited the Youth Olympic Village, Games venues, the Opening and Closing Ceremony location and the Intelligent Transport Systems Centre. He also took part in the Chefs de Mission seminar, which provided the delegation heads of NOCs with information and advice on how to prepare the athletes who will compete in August. During his trip, he also devoted time to giving motivational speeches to the staff of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) and local university students.

President Rogge said, “This visit to Singapore has been a fruitful and constructive one, and I am pleased with the way the preparations for the Youth Olympic Games are unfolding. The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee is doing a great job, and it warms me to see that their enthusiasm for the upcoming Games matches mine. I am looking forward to a superb first edition this August.”

The President was also on hand to launch the Young Ambassador programme, a new initiative that engages 30 young people nominated by their NOCs to help promote the YOG in their regions and communities, and support the athletes before and during the Games as well as during their participation in the Culture and Education Programme (CEP).

Rogge spoke with each of the 30 ambassadors, who range in age from 18 to 28, and the 60 CEP Champions, local representatives who will promote and facilitate the Culture and Education Programme developed by the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee and the IOC.

In addition to paying a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Rogge also met the Singapore National Olympic Council President and Deputy Prime Minister, Teo Chee Hean; the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan; and other dignitaries.

“We are honoured and privileged to have the President of the IOC visiting Singapore again. We are encouraged by his positive feedback and encouragement. As we move closer to the opening of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games in August, I would like to invite everyone around the world to start celebrating the inaugural Games with us. Together with our partners, Singapore is committed to delivering a successful Games – one that is meaningful and memorable,” said SYOGOC Chairman and IOC Vice-President Ng Ser Miang.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will take place from 14 to 26 August.

Picture: Aubrey Linzey (NAAU), Alfred Burgos & Remco Tevreden (NAOC)