Jorrit de Ruiter

Today is a black day for the Elite Badminton in The Netherlands.  Just like everybody around me I was shocked when I heard the news that the Dutch Olympic Committee had definitely rejected the investment plan of the Dutch Badminton Association and will stop funding our top badminton program.

I had just finished a TV recording for a Youth Sports Show and all of a sudden you see a lot of your athletic dreams fall apart.  First there is fear, then confusion and anger but eventually also realism. Because who had listened well to Maurits Hendriks, the NOC*NSF Technical Director, during the fantastic Papendal Sport Parade on November 3^rd could have heard his plans between the lines. NOC*NSF should only focus on sports that offer realistic opportunities for medals at the next Olympics. In fact he had 6 or 7 in mind but today it became clear that it will be 10. The last 8 years all of us, players as well as the Badminton Association, failed to get anywhere near a medal and so we could have foreseen what has happened today.

All this means that for many highly motivated and enthusiastic youngsters, full time players as well as talents, an important road towards the next Olympics has been shut down. Yet there are several roads leading to Rome and our challenge will be to find another proper road. From now on players will have to concentrate on that next to their daily trainings. I hope the Badminton Association will do the same. Out of the box thinking is now required. If someone has serious and constructive ideas please let me know!