The Unique Approach of the Dutch Olympic Team in Paris
As Duco Telgenkamp arrived at the Paris Olympics, he had a clear strategy etched in his mind. The pivotal elements, he understood, revolved around being decisive and transparent, with a strong emphasis on initiating interactions early. “You have to get your move in first,” he explained. “You have to give people a sign it will be a fist bump.” This assertiveness was not merely a personal preference; it was a necessary adjustment to the new norm.
In a notable shift, all athletes and staff members representing the Netherlands were informed prior to their arrival in Paris that traditional gestures of greeting such as handshakes, high-fives, and hugs were strictly forbidden. The official team policy dictated that only fist bumps would be the acceptable form of physical greeting among team members.
This cautious approach is deeply rooted in the lingering effects of the pandemic—an unspoken word that everyone involved with the Paris Games prefers to avoid: coronavirus. The pandemic imposed significant restrictions that altered the experiences of the last two Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 2021 and Beijing in 2022. Paris, in contrast, has positioned itself as the moment when the Olympic flame can finally be reignited in a safe and celebratory manner.
For fans attending the Games, this has translated into vibrant, packed stands and a lively, carnival-like atmosphere. However, for the athletes, the experience has been markedly different compared to the isolation felt in Japan and China, where strict bubbles were enforced to allow the events to proceed.
During the Tokyo Games, many athletes competed in largely empty stadiums, which created an atmosphere devoid of the usual vibrancy associated with the Olympics. Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times
The journey to the Olympics in Tokyo was fraught with challenges, as athletes had to navigate a complex bureaucratic maze related to COVID-19. This entailed:
- Obtaining multiple negative tests from designated clinics.
- Completing an exhaustive array of paperwork.
- Downloading health-tracking applications on their mobile devices.
- Managing a multitude of QR codes to present to officials upon arrival.
