Netherlands Antilles (AHO)

Curaçao, the chief island of the Netherlands Antilles, formed a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1931, with a view to participating in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Although recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1931, representation at the 1932 Olympics did not materialize, and there was little Olympic activity in the nation for many years.

IOC recognition was re-confirmed in 1950, then as the Netherlands Antilles, and the nation first competed at the Olympics in 1952, when they were represented by a football (soccer) team. The nation did not travel to Melbourne in 1956, and boycotted the 1980 Olympics, but otherwise competed at every Olympic Games since 1952 through 2008.

The Netherlands Antilles won one Olympic medal, a silver by Jan Boersma in boardsailing in 1988. Twenty years later, Churandy Martina appeared to have won a second silver medal in the men’s 200 m behind Usain Bolt, but he lost it after a late disqualification for a lane violation.

The Netherlands Antilles made its Olympic Winter début in 1988, in Calgary, and also competed at Albertville 1992. Their best classification was a 29th place, by the two-men bobsleigh team of Bart Carpentier Alting and Bart Drechsel.

On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist, with Curaçao and Sint Maarten forming separates nations, although affiliated with The Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles is no longer able to compete as an independent nation at the Olympic Games, although their athletes may compete for The Netherlands. Curaçao and Sint Maarten are also not eligible to compete in the Olympics as they are not members of the United Nations, which is now a requirement of the IOC. In 2012 three athletes from Curaçao participated at the Summer Olympics as Independent Olympic Athletes. As of 2021 the Curaçao NOC is still a member of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees.