CCB

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE for sportswomen in Olympic sports #1: Irene Schouten (Netherlands, speedskating) #2: Marte Olsbu Røiseland (Norway, biathlon) #3: Sydney McLaughlin (USA, athletics) #4: Arianna Fontana (Italy, shorttrack speedskating) #5: Emma McKeon (Australia, swimming) #6: BEST MALE ATHLETE for sportsmen in Olympic sports #1: Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, cycling) #2: Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands, speedskating) #3: Leon Marchand (France, swimming) #4: Nathan Chen (USA, figure skating) #5: Armand Duplantis (Sweden, athletics) #6: BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE for athletes in Paralympic sports #1: #2: #3: #4: #5: #6: BEST NON-OLYMPIC ATHLETE for athletes in Non-Olympic sports #1: #2: #3: #4: #5: #6: BEST YOUTH ATHLETE for any athlete up to 18 years old (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: David Popovici (Romania, swimming) #2: Mollie O'Callaghan (Australia, swimming) #3: Erriyon Knighton (USA, athletics) #4: #5: #6: BEST MEN'S TEAM for men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: Sweden horse jumping team #2: Finland ice hockey team #3: Croatia waterpolo team #4: #5: #6: BEST WOMEN'S TEAM for women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: Norway handball team #2: Netherlands field hockey team #3: Canada speedskating team pursuit #4: #5: #6: BEST DOUBLES OR PAIR for doubles or pairs (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: #2: #3: #4: #5: #6: BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR for the most improved athlete or team (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: Xandra Velzeboer (Netherlands, shorttrack speedskating) #2: Mollie O'Callaghan (Australia, swimming) #3: Jordan Stolz (USA, speedskating) #4: #5: #6: SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR for any sport moment from 2022 (including Olympic, Paralympic and Non-Olympic sports) #1: Ireen Wüst winning her fifth individual gold medal at her fifth Olympic Games #2: Lindsey Jacobellis' snowboard cross gold, finally! #3: Jonas Vingegaard winning the Tour de France #4: #5: #6: OLYMPIC SPIRIT AWARD for any athlete or team that took part in the 2022 Winter Olympics or Paralympics #1: #2: #3: #4: #5: #6:

I am most looking forward to the world speedskating championships in Heerenveen. I have tickets for the third day and hope to see skating sensation Jutta Leerdam live. A month earlier the first phase of the ticket sales for Paris '24 starts. I wonder if I get the chance to buy some nice tickets. Finally, I'm curious about the development of Dutch talents Tes Schouten (swimming), Joanne van Lieshout (judo), Niels Laros (athletics) and Roos Daleman (handball).

In the men's time trial one of the Belgians will win; I pick Remco Evenepoel (who will win the men's road race as well). At the women's side Annemiek van Vleuten won't win. She stops racing at the end of 2023. Reigning world champion Ellen van Dijk normally screws it up at Olympics, so my favourites are Chloe Dygert (USA) and Zoe Backstedt. Both are not in the list.

Totally agree, but we have to add Ellen van Langen (1992, gold in 800 meters), Yvonne van Gennip (triple gold in Calgary 1988) and Ireen Wüst (speedskating gold from 2006 till 2022) to the list. Oh wait, we were only allowed to choose 5 ...

Netherlands has a lot of medal contenders, but unfortunately not many clear favourites for gold. Well, my top 5: 1. Rowing: women single sculls (Karolien Florijn) 2. Hockey: women's team 3. Hockey: men's team 4. BMX: women's race (Merel Smulders) 5. Swimming: women's 200 breaststroke (Tes Schouten) I predict a lot of silver and bronze, especially for our superstars in athletics (Femke Bol, who is without a chance against Sydney McLaughlin), in cycling track (Harrie Lavreysen will be without a chance against Mikhail Jakovlev) and in swimming (Arno Kamminga is without a chance against Adam Peaty).

The men's volleyball title in Atlanta '96 for was chosen as the best and most memorable sportsmoment in the last century in our country. And I'm guessing if you include this century, this sportsmoment 'wins' again. So I voted for The Netherlands!

Second round nrs 1-4 A against nrs 1-4 B. And C with D?

I am happy that the Netherlands won against Montenegro, but it is not really a victory that counts. Montenegro no longer played for anything. Nevertheless, the feeling prevails that the Netherlands has failed against Germany and Spain, while winning was really possible. But congratulations to Montenegro, Denmark and Norway. One of them qualifies for the OS and the other two are sure of an OQT.

Yesterday's referees were a disgrace too. Netherlands scored a clear goal in the last second, but the referees disallowed the goal of Polman. Today again; the last penalty for Montenegro ... why? Things are very complicated now for . No semifinals and probably the fifth or sixth place in the poule, because I expect to win against . We expected a lot more after the crucial win in the first match against .

If continue to play like they did yesterday against , we will finish 12th. In all those years I've seen handball from the Dutch team, this was by far the worst match. The players have zero confidence at the moment, which is pretty strange, because they played good against .

Poor Poland. Spain and Germany of course ended with the result both teams going ahead. And a pretty good match from against . Sadly lost and plenty of room for improvement. On to the game against .

Correct. Montenegro is playing very strong, especially in front of the home crowd. Germany has also played well in recent months. Spain is really disappointing. Group II is going to be a tough one.

Normally Probably And one out of But all depends on the draw of next year's world championships and the composition of the OQT's.

I really didn't expect this. It proves once again that sport is not a science. I gave nothing more for Denmark's chances after the defeat to Slovenia. Certainly not because they recently lost to the Netherlands twice. Nice that it remains exciting in group I.

I agree. It's really bad.

Surprising win for Poland against Spain . Will be difficult for Spain to reach the main round. France with a very convincing performance against Romania. For me the French team is the big favorite for the ECh-title now.

Apologies :-)

Unfortunately, the tension is a bit off in groups A and B. After today's results, you don't have to be a fortune teller to predict that Norway and Sweden will make it to the semi-finals. There is more tension in groups C and D.

Hungary was a nightmare tonight. I didn't expect a loss against Croatia at all, although Croatia is the number four of the last ECh. At least Hungary will go to the main round. Against Denmark and Slovenia they are not without a chance.

Well, what can I say about it? A very nervous match from , but a very important first win. It wasn't very strong offensively, and played well too. remains the big favorite in this group, especially after today's games. I can breathe again. Against I expect a more comfortable Dutch win.

Unbelievably nervous for the opening game of the Netherlands tonight. We miss a lot of big names, but we still want to make it to the top 8. Unfortunately a difficult draw with France, Romania, Germany, Montenegro and Spain, but who knows, the team may surprise. I envy you, @Vektor. An evening without nerves seems wonderful to me. Hungary again tomorrow.

It's really strange, because Hungary always wins all youth tournaments. Then you also expect a lot of prizes at senior level. By the way, 10 minutes left to win the win against Switzerland. I hope with you.

Well, winning against Switzerland is not that hard. You can have a little more confidence in your team. Recently they beat Romania, which is very good team.

and maybe . I expect many close matches. But Norway, Denmark and France (already qualified as the host nations) are the greatest favourites in my opinion to win the ECh-title.

Harrie Lavreysen with a WCh-title again. What a phenomenal rider. But I'm afraid this was his last, because the Israeli Jakovlev will dominate men's sprinting from now on.