TeamNL@work exists with the support from the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). VWS and NOC*NSF share the vision that elite athletes should early become aware of the fact that elite sport is a temporary profession and that they are supported in their transition to a next career step. Why does VWS consider it that important?
“Elite athletes often have to devote a lot of time and energy to give their best performance. As a result, other matters such as studying or gaining work experience apart from their elite sport, may temporarily move into the background. However, these are important experiences needed after an elite sport career. The TeamNL@work program. The TeamNL@work program gives elite athletes the opportunity to become more aware of the steps they want to take when their elite sport career has come to an end. This program enables athletes to feel a lower barrier in preparing for a life after sport, since they also see the alternatives. The fact that this preparation becomes an increasing part of the education pursued by the athlete, is a great step forward in my view, and, therefore, I gladly support this program from the sports ministry budget of VWS.”
You become active in a sport, you enjoy it and you are good at it. You go for it and you forget the world around you. That was elite sport in the old days. Nowadays, more attention is drawn to life after your elite sport career. It is a fact that you do not continue with the shot put until you retire. This is why the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport and NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation) launched TeamNL@work. To make elite athletes aware of their lives after sport. And to give them the opportunity to prepare for this. The Dutch Minister for Long-term care and Sport Mrs. Conny Helder tells us more about the choices and the ideas behind this.
Five questions to the Dutch minister of sport, Mrs. Conny Helder
“Prepare for your life
after elite sport”
The ministry does not only invest in TeamNL@work, but your investments are much broader. For instance, you invest in the stipend and cost compensation. Why do you consider it that important for elite athletes?
“It is important to the elite athlete to focus on training and performances. In many cases, it is not possible to work in addition to your fulltime elite sport career or to make both ends meet with your income as an athlete or with sponsoring. VWS invests in wonderful elite sport and talent programs, but we need many elite athletes and talents to this end. Without them we don’t have performances and events which we can enjoy as the Netherlands and which inspire us.”
On behalf of VWS, what would you like to share with the elite athlete who has not contacted TeamNL@work yet?
“TeamNL@work offers you the opportunity to become more aware of what you would like to do after your elite sport career. Have a talk with professionals and take part in one of the TeamNL@work programs – this is how you prepare for the future. Allow yourself some time to have a look into the future in addition to your busy sport life.”
5
4
We observe that the societal engagement among athletes is growing and that an increasing number of athletes feels responsible to be engaged in society during their elite sport career. Why do you consider it important that athletes are engaged in society?
“Elite sport is already very inspiring in itself, and thus, already has a societal impact. I consider it important that elite athletes are also aware of this and they can contribute in their turn to increasing the social impact of elite sport. In my view, they do so first and foremost by establishing a safe, fair and positive sport culture and by manifesting this. They can also do this by showing their journey to the top, by expressing themselves about a certain topic or by giving a clinic. Everyone can contribute in his or her own way.”
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2
The TeamNL@work program has existed since September 2017. How does VWS consider the development of this program?
“Since the start of the program, we have been in close contact with NOC*NSF about its progress and, particularly, as regards the experiences from the athletes involved. It is important to continue the dialogue and to listen carefully to the athletes. In this respect, the program can be amended or added to their wishes. More than hundreds of (former) athletes have already participated in the program since 2017 and the responses from the participants have been very positive. At present, a solid and varied program exists which is amply used.”
1
ask the minister
Five questions to the Dutch minister of sport, Mrs. Conny Helder
On behalf of VWS, what would you like to share with the elite athlete who has not contacted TeamNL@work yet?
“TeamNL@work offers you the opportunity to become more aware of what you would like to do after your elite sport career. Have a talk with professionals and take part in one of the TeamNL@work programs – this is how you prepare for the future. Allow yourself some time to have a look into the future in addition to your busy sport life.”
5
We observe that the societal engagement among athletes is growing and that an increasing number of athletes feels responsible to be engaged in society during their elite sport career. Why do you consider it important that athletes are engaged in society?
“Elite sport is already very inspiring in itself, and thus, already has a societal impact. I consider it important that elite athletes are also aware of this and they can contribute in their turn to increasing the social impact of elite sport. In my view, they do so first and foremost by establishing a safe, fair and positive sport culture and by manifesting this. They can also do this by showing their journey to the top, by expressing themselves about a certain topic or by giving a clinic. Everyone can contribute in his or her own way.”
4
The ministry does not only invest in TeamNL@work, but your investments are much broader. For instance, you invest in the stipend and cost compensation. Why do you consider it that important for elite athletes?
“It is important to the elite athlete to focus on training and performances. In many cases, it is not possible to work in addition to your fulltime elite sport career or to make both ends meet with your income as an athlete or with sponsoring. VWS invests in wonderful elite sport and talent programs, but we need many elite athletes and talents to this end. Without them we don’t have performances and events which we can enjoy as the Netherlands and which inspire us.”
3
TeamNL@work exists with the support from the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). VWS and NOC*NSF share the vision that elite athletes should early become aware of the fact that elite sport is a temporary profession and that they are supported in their transition to a next career step. Why does VWS consider it that important?
“Elite athletes often have to devote a lot of time and energy to give their best performance. As a result, other matters such as studying or gaining work experience apart from their elite sport, may temporarily move into the background. However, these are important experiences needed after an elite sport career. The TeamNL@work program. The TeamNL@work program gives elite athletes the opportunity to become more aware of the steps they want to take when their elite sport career has come to an end. This program enables athletes to feel a lower barrier in preparing for a life after sport, since they also see the alternatives. The fact that this preparation becomes an increasing part of the education pursued by the athlete, is a great step forward in my view, and, therefore, I gladly support this program from the sports ministry budget of VWS.”
2
The TeamNL@work program has existed since September 2017. How does VWS consider the development of this program?
“Since the start of the program, we have been in close contact with NOC*NSF about its progress and, particularly, as regards the experiences from the athletes involved. It is important to continue the dialogue and to listen carefully to the athletes. In this respect, the program can be amended or added to their wishes. More than hundreds of (former) athletes have already participated in the program since 2017 and the responses from the participants have been very positive. At present, a solid and varied program exists which is amply used.”
1
You become active in a sport, you enjoy it and you are good at it. You go for it and you forget the world around you. That was elite sport in the old days. Nowadays, more attention is drawn to life after your elite sport career. It is a fact that you do not continue with the shot put until you retire. This is why the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport and NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation) launched TeamNL@work. To make elite athletes aware of their lives after sport. And to give them the opportunity to prepare for this. The Dutch Minister for Long-term care and Sport Mrs. Conny Helder tells us more about the choices and the ideas behind this.
“Prepare for your life
after elite sport”
ask the minister