28 What does the Sports Agenda 2017+ mean for... ...DUTCH SPORTS FEDERATIONS The rapid changes in society pose a challenge to Dutch sports federations. On the one hand they have to try to preserve and protect all the good things that exist within organised sports. On the other hand they need to embrace innovation and renewal. Yesterday’s laws no longer meet the demands of today’s world. Dutch federations must embrace change, becoming enterprising organisations that are constantly listening to what drives participants. Together with public authorities and sports clubs, they need to provide attractive facilities since that, as all participants will agree, is an important precondition for enjoyment. ...DUTCH SPORTS CLUBS They need to cultivate a bold, entrepreneurial spirit, one that favours innovation. Clubs must foster an open attitude that will enable them to cooperate with other parties (e.g. the local council, the care and welfare sectors, the business community, and schools). They have a lot on their plate. That is unavoidable, given the vital need to adapt to the rapid changes in our society. A truly welcoming sports club will focus on ensuring that everyone can enjoy themselves, including non-members. ...DUTCH ELITE ATHLETES The bar is constantly being raised. Dutch elite athletes hoping to qualify for support from the Dutch NOC must demonstrate that they have a realistic chance of winning a medal in the international arena. The NOC supervision spans an eight-year period from the period of preparing for major events up to and including the move to a new career afterwards. The training programme for Dutch elite athletes now places more emphasis on the prospect of a dual career (school, studies, and employment). ...DUTCH PARTNERS AND SPONSORS The Dutch NOC seeks to expand on the presentation of the Dutch Olympic team during the 2014 Sochi Games as a unified whole, as the so called ‘TeamNL’. A TeamNL is attractive to Dutch businesses, particularly if there are collective sponsors’ rights together with the Dutch federations. A TeamNL Business Club is being set up.
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