KNVB in talks with Prime Minister Jetten on international cooperation and the power of sports

Prime Minister Rob Jetten is in the center. To his left is Secretary-General Gijs de Jong. - Foto: KNVB Media

On Thursday, October 8, the KNVB, together with a broad civil society coalition called “The Netherlands Is Not an Island,” met with Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The constructive discussion focused on the importance of international cooperation, with particular attention paid to the role that the Netherlands and sports can play in this regard.

The meeting with Prime Minister Jetten provided a great opportunity to highlight the unifying power of sports and the importance of international cooperation. Sports bring people, countries, and cultures together and contribute to social development. As such, sports play an important role in strengthening international relations and the Netherlands’ position in the world.

Gijs de Jong, Secretary General of the KNVB: “It’s great that the cabinet wants to strengthen the international sports strategy and thereby contribute to economic and social development and strong bilateral relations. We look forward to working together to further shape this ambition.”

Sports as a unifying force

The KNVB, together with FNV, the Council of Churches, Partos, Cordaid, Oxfam Novib, and Solidaridad, is part of the “The Netherlands Is Not an Island” coalition. Although these organizations have different backgrounds, they share the conviction that what happens elsewhere in the world also affects the Netherlands.

The focus on sports within international cooperation aligns with the ambitions the government presented on Prinsjesdag. In that presentation, the government expressed its intention to strengthen the international sports strategy and thereby contribute to economic and social development as well as the Netherlands’ bilateral relations.

The KNVB views this as a positive development and a significant step toward further recognition of the social and diplomatic value of sports.

Working together to build a strong international position

The meeting with Prime Minister Jetten underscores the importance of effective cooperation between the government, the sports sector, and civil society organizations. The KNVB looks forward to working with the cabinet and other stakeholders in the coming period to further shape this international agenda. In this way, we can make the most of the power of sports and jointly strengthen the Netherlands’ position on the international stage.