Dozens of Dutch national sports associations are being forced to lay off staff because of declining membership numbers and financial sponsorship, the AD says on Wednesday.

The paper asked all 26 Olympic sport foundations for information and found 80% have reduced their workforce.

For example, 50 part-time jobs have gone at the Dutch football association KNVB, while the tennis association KNLTB is cutting 10 full-time jobs. Volunteers are taking over the work that used to be done by paid officials, the AD says.

Declining income from lottery organsation De Lotto, which should be funding sport to the tune of €50m a year, is one reason for the financial problems.

And 65% of the associations said they no longer have a main sponsor or other sources of income.