Four Dutch speed skaters who were attempting to attend the Winter Olympics by becoming Kazakhs, have abandoned their efforts to change nationality, Nos tv reported at the weekend.

The four say Kazakhstan failed to meet the January 1 deadline to make sure their new passports are in order.
They had been unable to compete in the World Cup skating events so far this season because the International Skating Union wants to see their Kazakh passports.
One of the four, Jorrit Bergsma, has in the meantime become Kazakhstan’s 5km champion.