Dutch government supports possible Olympic bid

The Dutch government will support plans by the country's Olympic committee to host the Olympics in 2028 – exactly a century after Amsterdam last staged the games.

"It would be fantastic if we could experience the games in our own country again after 100 years," prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Friday. "It is a plan with daring, vision and decisiveness and that is exactly what the Netherlands needs in these troubled economic times."

Balkenende said the government also backed a plan by the committee to raise the overall standard of sport in the country and pledged 13.5 million euros for it to do so. That plan would include improving sports facilities across the country. "We will make a final decision on the bid in 2016. Even if we don't do it, this investment will be worthwhile," said deputy sports minister Jet Bussemaker.

Both the Dutch capital and port city Rotterdam are expected to try to host the games if the Netherlands decides to bid for the 2028 games.

In the run-up to the Olympic Games in 19 years, the Netherlands wants to organise the football World Cup with neighbouring Belgium in 2018 or 2022.