Annual report 2022: new steps

After a turbulent and uncertain period of coronavirus restrictions, the sport entered calmer waters in 2022. As might be expected, combat sports recovered quickly. That meant the VA (Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit, the Dutch combat sports authority) could return to its core task: supervision. But there was also room for new developments, as can be read in the organisation's most recent annual report.

No fewer than 212 combat sports events were held in the Netherlands in 2022. Athletes, trainers, officials, promoters: everyone was fully back at work. The same applied to the VA audit team, which visited dozens of gyms and events.

The VA also developed new activities. Disciplinary rules were finally drawn up for the sector as a whole, and a disciplinary committee was set up. Anti-doping measures were put into practice. An information campaign was launched on the subject of weight cutting. The first knowledge day for ringside physicians took place.

The VA board was strengthened with Saskia van Rijswijk, Alexander Scholtes and Jan Wirken. The Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht) gained a new chair, Jan Rijpstra, and two new members, Mark Merx and Peter Kwint. Organisationally, the VA is on a solid footing.

2022 was also marked by a major step: from forty years of largely fragmentation to one strong combat sports organisation. In close cooperation with NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation), a project leader was appointed: Jan Willem Landré. This is a highly interesting development, about which you can read everything in the 2022 Annual Report. (pdf, in Dutch)