At the beginning of this year I organized a master class for Logica about the “most inspiring shared service center”. This meeting, lead by Tom Kok, began with the question: “What inspires you the most?” This question got people thinking and resulted in many surprising responses. My answer was: “The Olympic Games and their effect on society.”

Although we are currently working successfully on the promotion of a guide for collaboration between city councils - and I enjoy developing this concept further, this thought kept running through my mind.

I started to read the ‘Olympic Plan 2028’ (about the ambition to organize the 2028 Olympics in The Netherlands – red.). I also believe that sport can contribute to a better Dutch society. A country in which citizens are vital and youth is fit, where a healthy lifestyle is a standard and where people from various backgrounds meet on the sport field. A country with strong social links, where people can develop their talents - at school, at work and outside these areas – maximal development.

The following legendary quote by Nelson Mandela (Laureus World Sports Awards, Monaco 2000) forms the heart of the plan: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. ”

We live in a world where the lives of many people are controlled by fear and despair. I also see revolts, hunger, debt crisis and falling stock markets. While I don’t ignore these events, I won’t let them take over my life.

I prefer to focus on things that inspire me, and I get this from the Olympic Games, the vision of (ex)athletes and from participating in sport myself. I came to the conclusion that I want to share my ICT knowledge and experiences to help create innovative solutions to positively contribute to the general perception of sport in society.

To improve my sport sector knowledge, I decided to follow the International Master of Sport Management at the Johan Cruyff Institute. It is a 1-year program delivered in English over 2 sessions a week, with a sport related Business Plan as a central assignment.

I also would like to create smart partnerships to realize good ideas. I can - for example - imagine Bachelor students from the Johan Cruyff University undertaking internships at Logica and working on innovative ideas with other students. We already have a great program for that: Working Tomorrow.

I have now started my journey to realize innovative solutions for recreational sports and the development of sport talent. By next year I hope to realize my first ideas. Eventually I believe that wise, collaborating athletes – inspired by Pierre De Coubertin life’s philosophy – will find smart solutions for the problems created by politicians and bank directors, who are driven by power and greed.

After all, inspired athletes can perform exceptionally.