EINDHOVEN, 11 February 2010 – Erica Terpstra has committed herself as ambassador to The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup. Terpstra, who will be chairperson of the Dutch NOC*NSF Olympic Committee until 18 May 2010, will use her enthusiasm and extensive experience in sports to turn this bid into a successful one.

In the newsletter of The HollandBelgium Bid (see www.thebid.org) Terpstra says about The HollandBelgium Bid: “I am convinced that a World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium would be a special event with something extra. The world would be introduced to an element that is rarely seen at a World Cup: conviviality.”

And about her ambassadorship: “I have visited major sports events all over the world, and EURO 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands is still fresh in my mind. That proves my point and I also noticed that everyone is eager to once again impress with the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. I am convinced that we can organise a truly wonderful World Cup!”

Harry Been, CEO of The HollandBelgium Bid: to many people, Erica Terpstra is the personification of sports in the Netherlands. Not only in the Netherlands, but also in other countries. Terpstra has a very extensive network in the international world of sports. With her enormous charisma she is able to make people even more enthusiastic about a World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.”

Other ambassadors
The announcement of the ambassadorship comes shortly after the appointment of Ruud Gullit as President of The HollandBelgium Bid. Terpsta has joined a long list of (ex) professional football players who have given their full support to the bid: Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Regi Blinker, Gilles de Bilde, Frank de Boer, Hans van Breukelen, Jan Ceulemans, Phillip Cocu, Johan Cruyff, Eric Gerets, Ruud Gullit, Georges Grün, Ahmed Hassan, Paul van Himst, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Rene van de Kerkhof, Willy van de Kerkhof, Patrick Kluivert, Erwin Koeman, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Krol, Wilfried Van Moer, Johan Neeskens, Luc Nilis, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arthur Numan, Marc Overmars, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Michel Preud’homme, Michael Reiziger, Edwin van der Sar, Enzo Scifo, Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Orlando Trustfull, Gert Verheyen, Marc Wilmots, Aron Winter, Rob Witschge, Richard Witschge and Ben Wijnstekers. The list will be further expanded in the near future.

In addition to these football players, the bid is also supported by other sporting heroes, including Eddy Merckx, Justine Henin, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Daphne Koster and Kim Gevaert.

About Erica Terpstra
Erica Terpstra competed as a swimmer at the Olympic Games in Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964) where she won silver and bronze. Later, Erica Terpstra entered politics, joining the liberal party VVD. For four years she was State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports. Between 1977 and 2003 she was also a member of the Lower Chamber where, upon her retirement, she was the longest-standing representative. Since 2003 Erica Terpstra has been the chairperson of the NOC*NSF; in May she will pass on this task to André Bolhuis.