Fallen athletes remembered May 4, 2006

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2006 by Marco Stoovelaar

...Erica Terpstra speaks... ...during the memorial... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Fallen athletes remembered
Nederlands
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) - On Thursday, May 4, which was National Memorial Day, the Netherlands remembered its war victims.
For the second time, there was a special remembrance for athletes, who died because of war violence. A year ago, on the same date, in front of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, an official ceremony was held for the first time to remember victims in the Dutch sports world. Last year, there were speeches by Erica Terpstra, President of the Netherlands Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) and former cyclist Jan Derksen, amongst others.

...Henk Faanhof and Erica Terpstra... ...laid down wreath... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

This years memorial, which was held again in front of the Olympic Stadium, started at 12:30 PM.
NOC*NSF President Erica Terpsta, Amsterdam Sports Alderman Carolien Gehrels and Eddy Linthorst, Alderman of Amsterdam Oud-Zuid neighourhood, addressed the attendence and remembered the fallen athletes.
In her speech, Erica Terpstra mentioned that the theme for this years remembrance is 'Peace is not for granted' and stated the importance of remembering.
Former athlete Henk Faanhof, who was active as a cyclist during World War II, was interviewed and told about the often difficult circumstances of participating and attending sporting events in those terrible days.

...The five wreaths near... ...the Statue of Prometheus... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The four speakers all stated the importance of sports during the war years and that this has to be remembered.

The time on which the memorial started was chosen because at this time on September 3, 1939, a soccer game was being played between DFC and SVV during the Silver Ball Tournament in Rotterdam. News broke then that war was declared and the Dutch sportsworld learned of the start of World War II, while its wasn't clear at that time that this also would reach the Netherlands. The time is now being used symbolical to remember the horror of the years, that followed that soccer game.
A lot of athletes, an exact total is not known, died during the war and that's why this memorial will be organized again. The sporting activities continued as much as possible in those days, as it provided the people with some detractions from those worrysome days.

After the speeches, wreaths were laid in front of the Statue of Prometheus on the front of the Olympic Stadium. This Statue was erected in 1947 as a remembrance for fallen athletes.
The wreaths were laid on behalf of the NOC*NSF, the Municipality Amsterdam, Amsterdam Football Club Ajax (soccer), the Olympic Stadium and the Tenants of the Stadium.
The five wreaths form the five Olympic rings to symbolize the connection between the sportsworld, the Olympic Stadium and the memorial.
(May 4)

A reportage of the remembrance could be seen on Thursday-evening (May 4) in NOS Sportjournaal on Channel 2.

...Former baseball-players Wim Crouwel, Ed van Opzeeland... ...and Han Urbanus attended the memorial... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)