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'Top of the World!' 
On Wednesday, August 27, the Dutch medal-winners of the Beijing Olympic Games were honored in The Hague. The winners visited Queen Beatrix, while Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende and NOC*NSF President Erica Terpstra, amongst others, looked back to the accomplishments of the biggest Dutch Olympic Team in history, which included a total of 242 athletes.
Recap of the day
Back Home!
The Dutch Olympic Team, including the Softball and Baseball-squads, arrived back safely on Schiphol International Airport near Amsterdam on Monday-afternoon. Hereafter, everyone was transported by bus to the Olympic Stadium in the Dutch capital, where the medal-winners were honored and everyone was reunited with his or hers family. An entertainment show, including performances by wellknown Dutch artists, concluded the Welcom Home Party at the site of the 1928 Olympic Games.
Complete lookback to Day 21 of the Olympics
Goodbye Beijing!
On Sunday, August 24, the 29th Olympic Games came to an end with an impressive Closing Ceremony. In 16 days, 302 gold medals were handed out, including seven to Dutch athletes. The Dutch Olympic Team won with 16 medals. With the conclusion of the Beijing Games, the focus is now on the London Games in 2012. Unfortunately, baseball and softball are not included in that Games. So, it's now up to all of us to show that baseball and softball belong to the Olympics and we have to work for reinstatement for the 2016 Olympic Games! The Dutch Olympic Team travels back home on Monday.
Complete lookback to Day 20 of the Olympics
A relaxing day with a surprise
On Saturday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team had a relaxing day, as most players went into town to do some shopping. Also today, the Olympic Baseball Tournament ended with a surprise, as Korea upset Cuba by winning 3-2 in an exciting and thrilling final in the evening. On Sunday, the Olympics will be end with the Closing Ceremony. The Dutch Team travels home on Monday.
Complete lookback to Day 19 of the Olympics
More decisions and Medals
On Friday, the semi-finals in the Olympic Baseball Tournament were played with Korea and Cuba reaching the final. The USA and Japan will play for the bronze medal on Saturday. Also on Friday, the ISF launched the 2009 Youth World Cup, while players of the Dutch Olympic Softball Team could fill in the day as they wanted. Some of them visited the Great Wall, other remained in the Olympic Village and also attended the women's hockey-final, which was won by the Netherlands.
Complete lookback to Day 18 of the Olympics
A day of surprises
On Thursday, it was a day full of surprises. Not only that it rained heavily after a few very warm days, but there also were two unexpected gold medals for the Dutch Olympic Team. In the softball-final, Japan surprised by beating title-defender USA, 3-1, to capture the gold medal. Players of the Dutch Olympic Softball Team attended several sports games on Thursday.
Complete lookback to Day 17 of the Olympics
A day of decisions
On Wednesday, the semi-finals were played in the Olympic Softball Tournament with the USA and Japan reaching the all-deciding final game on Thursday. Dutch Umpire Rob Veldkamp officiated in one of the sem-finals. Also on Wednesday, players of the Dutch Olympic Softball Team attended the semi-final of the Women's Hockey Team and saw them beat Argentina and reach the final of their tournament.
Complete lookback to Day 16 of the Olympics
The day after
On Tuesday, the day after the Dutch Olympic Softball Team closed its tournament with a victory, the team had the day off. Some went on to see the game of the Dutch Baseball Team, others went shopping or stayed in the Olympic Village. Also on Tuesday, there was a reception and in the evening, there was a visit to the Holland Heineken House.
Complete lookback to Day 15 of the Olympics
Dutch Team close with victory
The Dutch Olympic Softball Team closed its Olympic tournament on Monday with a 4-2 victory against Chinese Taipei. After trailing 1-0 in the first at bat, the Dutch came back strongly and got solid pitching from Judith van Kampen en route to their first victory.
Complete lookback to Day 14 of the Olympics
Dutch held off base by dominating Americans
On Sunday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team was shutout for the fourth day in a row, this losing 8-0 to the strong squad of Olympic title-defender USA. The good thing of the game was that the score was held reasonable, as Team USA is dominating and almost surely will capture the gold medal for the fourth time in a row. The team had 13 basehits, including three homeruns, while the Dutch hit only one ball into the outfield.
Complete lookback to Day 13 of the Olympics
Third shutout-loss in a row
On Saturday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team was handed its third consecutive shutout-loss, losing 8-0 to Australia. In the game, the Dutch offensive produced only one basehit, a single by Kim Kluijskens in the seventh inning. On Sunday, the Dutch Team is playing against Olympic title-defender USA. Also check out some of the earlier day-reports, as photos has been added on several pages.
Complete lookback to Day 12 of the Olympics
Disappointing loss
On Friday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team suffered a disappointing 8-0 shutout-loss against Venezuela. Hopes were high before the game, but unfortunately, the outcome wasn't in our favor. The Dutch Team now meets Australia in its next game on Saturday. Also on Friday, the Dutch Olympic Baseball Team lost its third game in a row.
Complete lookback to Day 11 of the Olympics
A loss with a good feeling
Yes, this headline is correct. You can loose a game, but nevertheless have a good feeling. That's what happened when the Dutch Olympic Softball Team was shutout 3-0 by medal-contender Japan on Thursday-evening, as the Dutch team played a good game, especially after the heavy losses in the first two games of the softball-tournament.
Complete lookback to Day 10 of the Olympics
Dutch Team suffers another loss
The Dutch Olympic Softball Team on Wednesday-evening suffered another big loss, losing 9-2 to Canada in a 6-inning contest. Sandra Gouverneur homered for the Dutch team, which will face Japan on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Dutch Baseball Team was shutout 5-0 by Chinese Taipei with Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima in attendance.
Complete lookback to Day 9 of the Olympics
Dutch open Olympics with loss!
The Dutch Olympic Softball Team opened the 29th Olympic Games on Tuesday-evening with a 10-2 loss vs. host nation China with Marloes Fellinger hitting a homerun in the fifth inning to break the Chinese Perfect Game. On Wednesday, the team meets Canada, while the baseball-team opens against Chinese Taipei on the first day of their tournament.
Complete lookback to Day 8 of the Olympics
Ready to play!
The Dutch Olympic Softball Team is ready to play. On Monday, the team conducted its last practice-session. On Tuesday, the team will play its first Olympic game against host China.
Complete lookback to Day 7 of the Olympics
Bicycles and Beauty
On Sunday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team had the day off, but picked up some mini-bicycles. Elsewhere in Beijing, some members of the Dutch delegation visited the amazing Forbidden City. Sunday was very cloudy and later in the day, it rained heavily, resulting in the cancelation of some Olympic disciplines, such as an exhibition game of the Dutch Olympic Baseball Team.
Complete lookback to Day 6 of the Olympics
Visits and Receptions
On Saturday-morning, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team got a surprise visit of Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who was guided around the softball-apartment in the Olympic Village. In the afternoon, KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten and KNBSB-Boardmember Softball Affairs André van Overbeek attended a reception of the NOC*NSF.
Complete lookback to Day 5 of the Olympics
Goosebumps, breathtaking, speechless
On Friday-evening, the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing were officially opened with a breathtaking Opening Ceremony in the National Stadium, with the Dutch Olympic Team entering the stadium as 150th nation. Earlier in the day, there were more amazing moments when some of us climbed the Great Wall.
Complete lookback to Day 4 of the Olympics
More impressions
On Thursday, one day before the Opening Ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team held another 2-hour practice session on the playing site. Also today, the Dutch Olympic Team was officially welcomed in the Olympic Village and the Holland Heineken House was officially opened. But there were more impressions on this day in Beijing.
Complete lookback to Day 3 of the Olympics
First impressions
On Wednesday, everyone got its first impressions of Beijing. The Dutch Olympic Softball Team used its first full day in the Chinese capital to conduct a 2-hour training session. Also on Wednesday, the Olympic Flame started its final journey through the city of Beijing. The Dutch Team will practice again on Thursday, then again on Saturday.
Complete lookback to Day 2 of the Olympics
Goodbye Japan, Hello China
On Tuesday-evening, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team arrived safely at Beijing after the flight from Narita in Japan. After getting their accreditation and ID cards, the team went on to the Olympic Village. The Dutch Team will return to the field on Wednesday, as it now has some almost daily practices scheduled to get familiar with the stadium, but also to remain in shape.
Complete lookback to Day 14 of the Japan Tour and Day 1 of the Olympics
Before coming to Beijing, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team completed a tour in Japan. Earlier, in June the team completed its second monthlong American trip preparing for the upcoming XXIX Olympic Games, which will open on August 8 in Beijing.
Did the team travel to California and Hawaii in February/March, in May/June it traveled around to the northeast. The team also played three games in a tour at home.
Besides almost daily practice sessions, the team played eleven games against three teams from the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in Allentown (Pennsylvania), Rockford (Illinois) and Akron (Ohio).
Complete coverage Japan Tour
Complete coverage Holland Tour
Complete coverage second American Tour
Complete coverage first American Tour
On Wednesday, March 12, the International Softball Federation (ISF) announced the official game schedule for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Olympic Schedule Dutch Softball Team
ISF Press Release with the Complete Schedule
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...Saturday, June 16, 2007 was more than a great day for Dutch softball.
On that day, the Dutch squad won the thrilling final of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament against host Italy, 3-2, needing an extra inning to do so. With Italy batting, runners on first and third base and two outs, a line drive towards Lynn Geertman at second base made an end to this more than exciting game. Players and staff erupted in celebration as the Dutch National Softball Team qualified for the Olympic Games 2008, which are being held August 6-24 this year in Chinese capital Beijing.
During the Olympic Qualifier, American Head Coach Liz Kelly saw her team grow by the day and gain more confidence. In the end, it all paid off and the team returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1996 when it participated in Atlanta (USA).
To celebrate the return to the Olympics and to enable everyone to follow the process towards the first game in Beijing, this site has been created.
Here you will find all kind of information on all players and staff members, as well as extensive coverage of the ambitious preparations for the Olympic Games.
The Dutch Olympic Softball Team will travel twice to the United States of America, bringing them to the San Francisco-Bay Area, Hawaii, Philadelphia, Rockford (Illinois) and Akron (Ohio), to play at least 30 games, including 12 against professional softball teams. In May, the team will play in the Elite Tournament on a yet to be named site in the Netherlands, playing in front of a home crowd. In July, the team will play more games on home soil, but also in Japan. There, the team not only will have its final preparations for the Olympics in August, but also the 15 players for the definitive roster will be determined and named.
2008 will be an exciting and intense year for everyone involved, but it also will be a year in which experiences and new impressions will be gained. A year in which the players and staff, who last year won the Olympic Qualifier can enjoy from their accomplishments. A year, which will be a highlight in Dutch softball history!
This site is for you all, we hope you will support us with your enthousiasm by not only attending and enjoying our games, but also stimulate everyone involved to get the best possible result.
We thank our sponsors (please visit their sites) and we hope you will enjoy this site and of course, you can always contact us.
Players & Staff Netherlands Women Softball Team
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