The head of the Dutch Olympic committee NOC*NSF has told Nos television he feels the ‘human rights component’ should be taken more into account when choosing future locations for the Olympic Games.

‘We will hold a meeting about human rights and sport while we are in Sochi and there is a reason why we are doing this in Russia,’ Gerard Dielessen told the broadcaster.

‘We are doing this to see if the human rights issue can be given a proper place within the IOC. It won’t be instant and we will need patience,’ Dielessen said.

He was reacting to a statement by the Netherlands former International Olympic Committee representative about the forthcoming Sochi winter games.

Issues

Breda Vriesman, who was a member of the IOC in 2007 when the vote won by Sochi was taken, told the Nos many IOC members would not have voted for Sochi if they could have foreseen the issues during the run-up to the games. ‘No one wants a games with so many issues,’ she said.

The Netherlands has been criticised for sending a heavyweight delegation including the prime minister, king and queen to the Sochi games. Prime minister Mark Rutte has promised to raise gay rights with the Russian authorities if possible.

The current Dutch IOC member, Camiel Eurlings, is open to change, Dielessen said. ‘You won’t see the rules changing during the games, but there are more IOC members who think something has to happen.’