Martina (R) ran for The Netherlands during the Olympics in London
LAUSANNE, Switzerland ● An appeal by the Caribbean island of Curaçao to be recognized as an official Olympic country has failed at world sport’s highest court.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it has no jurisdiction to take the Curaçao Sport and Olympic Federation’s case against the International Olympic Committee.
From 1952-2008, Curacao athletes competed for the Netherlands Antilles. The five-island territory was dissolved in 2010 and Curaçao became independent within the Netherlands kingdom.
The IOC withdrew recognition for the Netherlands Antilles Olympic body in 2011. It offered athletes a choice to compete at the 204-team 2012 London Games for the Netherlands, Aruba or independently under the Olympic flag.
Curaçao’s star athlete, Churandy Martina, ran in the men’s 100 and 200 metres for the Netherlands. Three others competed as independents.