Netherlands Antilles

Curaçao, the chief island of the Netherlands Antilles formed a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1931 with a view to participating in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Although recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1931, representation at the 1932 Olympics did not materialize, and there was little Olympic activity in the nation for many years. IOC recognition was re-confirmed in 1950, now as the Netherlands Antilles, and the nation first competed at the Olympics in 1952 when they were represented by a football (soccer) team. The nation did not travel to Melbourne in 1956, and boycotted the 1980 Olympics, but has otherwise competed at every Olympic Games since 1952. The Netherlands Antilles made its Olympic Winter début in 1988 at Calgary and also competed in 1992 at Albertville. The Netherlands Antilles has won one Olympic medal, a silver by Jan Boersma in boardsailing in 1988. Twenty years later, Churandy Martina appeared to have won a second silver medal in the men’s 200 m behind Usain Bolt, but he lost it after a late disqualification.

On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist, with Curaçao and Sint Maarten forming separates nations, although affiliated with The Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles will no longer be able to compete as an independent nation at the Olympic Games, although their athletes may compete for The Netherlands. Curaçao and Sint Maarten are also not eligible to compete in the Olympics as they are not members of the United Nations, which is now a requirement of the IOC. In 2012 three athletes from Curaçao participated at the Summer Olympics as Independent Olympic Athletes. As of 2017 the NOC is still a member of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees.