Evaluation TeamNL Olympic en Paralympic Winter Games Milan 2026
Project
Commissioned by NOC*NSF, the Sport Management & Sport Business research group is conducting an external evaluation. The study focuses on the performance-supporting and performance-enhancing facilities surrounding the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. The evaluation provides insight into how athletes and staff experienced the organisation, facilities and performance climate.
NOC*NSF is ultimately responsible for putting together and supporting the Olympic and Paralympic TeamNL squad. Sporting achievements are realised within a complex international context. Both controllable and uncontrollable factors play a role in this. NOC*NSF therefore commissions an external evaluation after each Olympic cycle.
Previous evaluations included Tokyo, Beijing and Paris. The evaluation of Milan Cortina 2026 builds on this and focuses primarily on hard performance-supporting factors.
With this evaluation, we provide targeted and comparable insights that support NOC*NSF in further optimising future TeamNL missions.
Jan-Willem van der Roest
Professor Sport Management & Sport Business
Objective
To gain systematic and comparable insight into the quality and effectiveness of performance support facilities surrounding TeamNL.
Method
The study consists of a quantitative evaluation using online questionnaires. These are distributed among athletes, coaches, medical staff and TeamNL staff. The project team works with a single basic questionnaire, adapted for each target group. The questionnaires are available in Dutch and English. They are based on previous, validated measurement instruments and will be administered after the Games. Analysis and reporting will follow a fixed format.
Expected results/products
The project team will deliver an evaluation report and a presentation with key findings. The results will be shared during follow-up days for the Olympic and Paralympic delegations.
Social impact
The evaluation contributes to the further professionalisation of elite sport support in the Netherlands. Structural evaluation, learning and improvement support a sustainable performance climate for elite and para-elite athletes.
Contribution to research and education
The project strengthens the research group's knowledge position in the field of elite sports organisations and evaluation research. Insights are used in sports management education programmes and contribute to the further development of evaluation tools for large-scale sporting events.
Sport Management & Sport Business Research Group
This project falls under the Sport Management & Sport Business Research Group. Want to know more?