23 maart 2006 : Opening address by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles mr. F.M. d.l.S. Goedgedrag Pan American Continental Seminar Higher Sport Administration.

Please allow me to start my opening speech in a somewhat unusual way, by addressing the organizing committee before I attend the guests.

An extraordinary moment asks for an unusual measure. As you all know, this March 23rd is a memorable day. Today we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NAOC, the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee. I sincerely congratulate the NAOC, or as we say it in Curaçao: masha pabien.

And now over to you, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great honor to be invited to open this Pan American Continental Seminar “Higher Sport Administration”, the first to be held in Curaçao.  The invitation allows me to speak on topics that lie close to my heart: sports, youth, education and public administration, those being in random order, of course.

I extend a special welcome to our foreign guests.

Y para aquellos que hablan español, quiero dar la cordial bienvenida a ustedes. Espero que se disfruten de nuestro país y que se aprovechen de su estadía en este evento.

Not only most of our distinguished speakers come from abroad. The same goes for the members of almost forty (40) Pan American Olympic Committees that are present here today. For some of you, this will be your first visit to our country. Fortunately, the NAOC has come up with a program that gives ample opportunity to discover our Dushi Kórsou.

Ladies and gentlemen, as I mentioned before, I am a sports enthusiast, but also an advocate of initiatives involving education and youth. According to the Olympic Charter, established by Pierre de Coubertin, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. I strongly support this goal and this is why I feel so comfortable in your midst.

For some time now, we – in the Netherlands Antilles, but I think you all might share our opinion – recognize the social significance of sports. It requires discipline, patience and perseverance. But sport also promotes self-confidence and builds self-esteem.

Once we become a member of a team, any team for that matter, we have to work together and accept responsibilities. Not just towards ourselves, but also towards our teammates and coaches.

Through sports we are – sometimes more often than we care to remember – taught how to deal with setbacks, like injuries and second places. Sure, the Olympic creed reads:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

but I know very little sportsmen and –women who are not disappointed when they are not presented with the only medal that really matters to them: the one made of gold. I hasten to say that we, Antilleans, are very proud of our windsurfer Jan Boersma. Jan came in second at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and won the first, and so far only, Olympic medal for the Netherlands Antilles.

All the skills I just mentioned, from discipline to learning how to cope with setbacks, seem to grow natural on athletes. They learn while doing. Unfortunately, those skills are not at all obvious for so many of our youngsters. Not just here at Curaçao, but throughout the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles, we are anxiously looking for ways to assure that our youngsters complete their education in stead of them dropping out of school.

We also need them to learn how to find and hold on to a job, instead of becoming unemployed. Sports are most definitely an easily accessible way to increase our youngsters’ social participation and their integration in society.

I strongly believe that sports can play an important role in securing a better future for our youth.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where you and this seminar on higher sports administration come in. It will not be enough – although it will certainly help – to lay out sports fields, hire trainers and coaches, buy outfits and balls – preferably basketballs, if you would ask my personal opinion. We need properly educated and sound people who can survey the entire process.

During this seminar you will discuss a broad variety of issues. Your program includes sessions on marketing, strategic management, leadership dynamics, sponsorship, female participation in boards and good governance in sports organizations. I am confident this seminar will be both instructive and inspirational. I also hope it will help you all to live up to the official Olympic motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (faster , higher, stronger).

I should now like to officially open this Pan American Continental Seminar on Higher Sport Administration, but not before I have congratulated the NAOC once again on its 75th anniversary.

Thank you.