“Elite athletes know exactly how it works to excel and deliver peak performances. Also at work”
What many of us do not see, is the enormous dedication that forms the basis of success. Ireen, Niek, Harrie, Kimberley, Diede and all their colleagues in elite sport are self-disciplined to live for their sport 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are always focused to give their best performance in the next match. Thankfully, they also have a long-term perspective and they are consciously thinking about their future. They are aware of what happens alongside their sport and what awaits them after their elite sport career. TeamNL can play an important role in this respect: together with TeamNL@work, we assist all athletes with an A-, HP- or Selection status, as well as elite athletes who used to have one or more of these statuses till two years ago, on their journey, free of charge, to new and/or future dreams and ambitions.
TeamNL@work offers multiple and varied programs. These include support in combining elite sport and education and assistance in the transition to a new career, for instance. We do this because we know that there will be a moment in time in the lives of all elite athletes when their elite sport career will end. A major farewell in the spotlights may wait for you, or perhaps a sudden, silent leave. It is our responsibility to create this awareness and assist elite athletes to this end.
We do all this with the support from the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, but also with the assistance from the business community. The number of jobs and internships for elite athletes which become available via the TeamNL@work list of companies, the ‘bedrijvenpool’, continues to grow. In our view, this comes as no surprise, since elite athletes know exactly how it works to excel and to deliver peak performances. Also at work. For instance, each former elite athlete who works in the business community will always be a TeamNL ambassador.
It is a fact that elite athletes become more aware about their exemplary role. More (former) TeamNL athletes are engaged in society. A good development, not least because elite athletes know best how to use their influence to address societal issues and to get the Netherlands moving. Both literally and symbolically. Of course, we encourage elite athletes wholeheartedly to be engaged in society. It does not only benefit society, but it also enriches the development of the athletes themselves. In this respect, it is important to mention that the athletes decide for themselves in the end whether it fits within the busy high-performance schedule and if they feel at ease with it. We would and could not oblige anything.
We are devoted to continue our work in the years to come, in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport. We are on track with TeamNL@work. We help elite athletes on their journey and make the Netherlands stronger. In this respect, we contribute to a solid society in which excelling is the societal engine.”
“TeamNL@work assists elite athletes free of charge on their journey to new and/or future dreams and goals”
Being number one in the world. Every elite athlete aims for this goal. Every one of them will set everything aside to achieve this. TeamNL assists them to this end. In fulfilling their dreams and achieving peak performances. And TeamNL does more than that. Since the career of an elite athlete ends at a certain moment, TeamNL@work is available. It assists in the next career step. Director of elite sport André Cats tells us about this essential service.
“We all know the wonderful success stories. Ireen Wüst, who solidified her position as the Dutch greatest Olympic champion of all time in Beijing with a gold medal once again, BMX racing cyclist Niek Kimmann, who won a gold medal in Tokyo, despite the fact that he suffered a small fracture in his knee during the preparatory training after a crash with an official who was not even allowed to be on the track. Harrie Lavreysen, who consolidates his status of the fastest man in the world on two wheels with two gold medals. The first Olympic medal in skeleton for the Netherlands, thanks to a phenomenal Kimberley Bos. Diede de Groot, who fulfils her dream in wheelchair tennis with a gold medal in the singles and doubles match. These and many other performances are an inspiration to the Netherlands and allow new generations to dream of gold.
André Cats
“It is our responsibility to create awareness and to assist elite athletes on their journey”
foreword
“Elite athletes know exactly how it works to excel and deliver peak performances. Also at work”
What many of us do not see, is the enormous dedication that forms the basis of success. Ireen, Niek, Harrie, Kimberley, Diede and all their colleagues in elite sport are self-disciplined to live for their sport 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are always focused to give their best performance in the next match. Thankfully, they also have a long-term perspective and they are consciously thinking about their future. They are aware of what happens alongside their sport and what awaits them after their elite sport career. TeamNL can play an important role in this respect: together with TeamNL@work, we assist all athletes with an A-, HP- or Selection status, as well as elite athletes who used to have one or more of these statuses till two years ago, on their journey, free of charge, to new and/or future dreams and ambitions.
TeamNL@work offers multiple and varied programs. These include support in combining elite sport and education and assistance in the transition to a new career, for instance. We do this because we know that there will be a moment in time in the lives of all elite athletes when their elite sport career will end. A major farewell in the spotlights may wait for you, or perhaps a sudden, silent leave. It is our responsibility to create this awareness and assist elite athletes to this end.
We do all this with the support from the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, but also with the assistance from the business community. The number of jobs and internships for elite athletes which become available via the TeamNL@work list of companies, the ‘bedrijvenpool’, continues to grow. In our view, this comes as no surprise, since elite athletes know exactly how it works to excel and to deliver peak performances. Also at work. For instance, each former elite athlete who works in the business community will always be a TeamNL ambassador.
It is a fact that elite athletes become more aware about their exemplary role. More (former) TeamNL athletes are engaged in society. A good development, not least because elite athletes know best how to use their influence to address societal issues and to get the Netherlands moving. Both literally and symbolically. Of course, we encourage elite athletes wholeheartedly to be engaged in society. It does not only benefit society, but it also enriches the development of the athletes themselves. In this respect, it is important to mention that the athletes decide for themselves in the end whether it fits within the busy high-performance schedule and if they feel at ease with it. We would and could not oblige anything.
We are devoted to continue our work in the years to come, in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport. We are on track with TeamNL@work. We help elite athletes on their journey and make the Netherlands stronger. In this respect, we contribute to a solid society in which excelling is the societal engine.”
“TeamNL@work assists elite athletes free of charge on their journey to new and/or future dreams and goals”
Being number one in the world. Every elite athlete aims for this goal. Every one of them will set everything aside to achieve this. TeamNL assists them to this end. In fulfilling their dreams and achieving peak performances. And TeamNL does more than that. Since the career of an elite athlete ends at a certain moment, TeamNL@work is available. It assists in the next career step. Director of elite sport André Cats tells us about this essential service.
“We all know the wonderful success stories. Ireen Wüst, who solidified her position as the Dutch greatest Olympic champion of all time in Beijing with a gold medal once again, BMX racing cyclist Niek Kimmann, who won a gold medal in Tokyo, despite the fact that he suffered a small fracture in his knee during the preparatory training after a crash with an official who was not even allowed to be on the track. Harrie Lavreysen, who consolidates his status of the fastest man in the world on two wheels with two gold medals. The first Olympic medal in skeleton for the Netherlands, thanks to a phenomenal Kimberley Bos. Diede de Groot, who fulfils her dream in wheelchair tennis with a gold medal in the singles and doubles match. These and many other performances are an inspiration to the Netherlands and allow new generations to dream of gold.
“It is our responsibility to create awareness and to assist elite athletes on their journey”
André Cats
foreword