CCB

World leading 400 m for Femke Bol 50,96 in Vienna. Second place for Lieke Klaver in 51,46.

Amsterdam is never gonna happen, unfortunately. The residents are very much against it, except for me.

If Japan cancels these Games, there will never be Games again, because we will be in a pandemic for at least 10 years or so. Assuming the Games go on, I think it's surprising that Netherlands enforced qualification. Given their mental state at crucial moments, I never expected that. Also congrats to Hungary. No dates for draw ceremony yet. Presumably after the men's qualification tournament?

The Netherlands has so far made a sloppy impression. Everything comes down to today's game. For me, Greece is the clear favourite because of how they played so far. In 2012 the decisive game was lost against Italy, in 2016 against Spain. I fear in 2021 against Greece ... The other semifinal: I bet on Italy.

Oh wow, I'm not thinking about the Peking Games at all. First Tokio (or not). But in the Women's 3000 meter there's one clear favourite for me: Martina Sablikova from Czech Republic. For the Dutch Antoinette de Jong is the best we have. Reigning 3000 meter Olympic Champion Carlijn Achtereekte didn't even qualify for this year's World Championships and former 3000 meter Olympic champion Ireen Wüst decided not to skate this distance anymore. Tips: Martina Sablikova , Antoinette de Jong , Isabel Weidemann , Natalia Voronina and of course Miho Takagi . Takagi could win medals on 5 distances (500, 1000, 1500, 3000, team pursuit). Shorttrack mixed gender relay: should have a promising team with Suzanne Schulting as our big star. But favourites are and South Korea.

That's for sure. I was born to panic

What is not can still come. The virus continues to surprise. And in Japan they are more anxious than anywhere else.

In Japan the approval of the vaccines takes much longer. Strange, but in neighboring countries vaccinations have already started. I assume the Games will be canceled. In my opinion only 1% chance that it will continue.

Apparently Japan only starts vaccinating in May 2021. That seems pretty late. The Olympic games are no longer realistic to me.

Well, same 'problems' here. I need free time in summer anyway, so I think I will be off duty in late July/early August. For now I hope the vaccins do their job and everyone stays healthy. Unfortunately Japan only starts their vaccination program at the end of February. At the same time I very much hope the Games will go on. But as we all know: hope is deferred disappointment ...

Mathieu van der Poel really wants to participate in the MTB Olympics rather than the Tour, but the question is what his sponsor wants. But first of all: Covid-infections in Japan are increasing rapidly, so at this moment I don't expect the Games will go on at all.

Netherlands will have only 4 riders, because they choose an extra track cycling rider instead of 5 riders for men's road rice. The 4 Dutch riders will be presumably Wilco Kelderman, Tom Dumoulin, Steven Kruiswijk and Sam Oomen. Not sure if the extra track cycling rider (Jan Willem van Schip) also rides the road race. Favourites: BELGIUM for sure. Hoping for Wout van Aert!

Team: track cycling sprint (Lavreysen/Hoogland/van den Berg/Büchli). I agree with your other choices, although speedskater Jutta Leerdam deserves as well to be sportswoman of the year.

[hide] Medal Matches December 20th, 2020 Third Place Match Date & Time (GMT +1) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 20th 2020, h. 15:30 Croatia 6 Denmark Final Date & Time (GMT +1) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 20th 2020, h. 18:00 France 4 Norway [/hide]

[hide] Semifinals December 18th, 2020 4 Nations, the 2 Winners from each Semifinal will qualify for the Final. The 2 losers from each Semifinal will play the Third Place Match. Semifinals Date & Time (GMT +1) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 18th 2020, h. 18:00 France 3 Croatia December 18th 2020, h. 20:30 Norway 7 Denmark [/hide]

Congratulations to Croatia. Never expected, but a nice surprise. Welcome back at the European top! Unfortunately The Netherlands don't play a good tournament. Without Estavana Polman the team misses creativity. Still nice we can play for the 5th place against Denmark or Russia.

Indeed, but US, Canada and Australia are normally way too good for the rest of the field. Maybe France can challenge the top 3. The Netherlands (4th in Rio) becomes weaker in the 4x100 freestyle relay every year. Two 53's and two 54's are enough for a final spot, but not to be a danger for a medal. Maybe GB and/or China?

The French federation requires very difficult times indeed, based on the 8th time of the last World Championships. In The Netherlands we find the requirements already too strict, which are based on the 12th time of last year's World Championships. In any case, only real medal candidates will qualify for France. Good luck with tonight's and tomorrow's sessions (looking forward to the 100 freestyle!).

Pretty good performancy by Melanie Hénique; she also set a year's best time on the non-Olympic 50 fly. And things are looking very good for a strong French 4x100 women's team: Gastaldello, Wattel (53.72), Bonnet (53.82) and Hénique maybe will be able to fight for a medal.

Well, still four days of main round to go and now already sure that Croatia, Norway, France and Russia will play the semifinals. Too bad all tension is gone, partly thanks to the ridiculous schedule. Russia and Norway the clear favourites for me, despite Russia could not win against France today.

My biggest fear comes true. Norway is crushing the world champion 16:10 at half time, Norway is much better than The Netherlands, but the referees ... Other world champion finalist Spain is also 16:10 behind against France.

[hide] Main Round December 10th - December 15th, 2020 12 Nations, 2 Groups, the 1st and 2nd Nation from each Group will qualify for the Semifinals Group 1 Date & Time (GMT +1) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 10th 2020 Montenegro 3 Sweden December 10th 2020 Denmark 5 Spain December 11th 2020 France 2 Russia December 11th 2020 Denmark 2 Sweden December 13th 2020 Montenegro 2 Russia December 13th 2020 France 4 Spain December 15th 2020 France 3 Sweden December 15th 2020 Denmark 1 Russia December 15th 2020 Montenegro 2 Spain Group 2 Date & Time (GMT +1) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 10th 2020 Netherlands 1 Germany December 10th 2020 Croatia 11 Norway December 12th 2020 Hungary 1 Romania December 12th 2020 Netherlands 10 Norway December 14th 2020 Hungary 5 Germany December 14th 2020 Croatia 2 Romania December 15th 2020 Croatia 4 Germany December 15th 2020 Hungary 6 Norway December 15th 2020 Netherlands 2 Romania [/hide]

Kind a miracle that Netherlands made it to the main round. After the lost games against Serbia and Croatia I didn't expect a win anymore. Now against Germany, Norway and Romania in the main round. Norway is still angry for that result against Netherlands in the last world championship, so they will be very motivated (and are in a huge form). But first Germany: always close battles against the team of Dutch coach Henk Groener.

Another bad and sloppy game of the World champions. Congrats to Croatia. Last match against the best opponent in this group, Hungary, will be presumably our last game.

Another qualifications for the Dutch swimming team for the OG at day 4 of the OQT in Rotterdam: 100 back women: Kira Toussaint (58.91) 4x100 women: Marrit Steenbergen (54.18) and Kim Busch (54.28) - Kromowidjojo & Heemskerk were already qualified At the end 12 swimmers are qualified. Unfortunately no 4x100 men. Edit: 1 additional swimmer was selected for the Olympics - Maaike de Waard (58.10) for the 100 fly (medley relay). So 13 swimmers are officially qualified for The Netherlands.