The SMI gained immediate credibility by ensuring the participation and contributions of key stakeholders such as the Netherlands Sport Confederation (NSF), the Netherlands Olympic Committee (NOC), the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), the Ministry of Welfare, Health and Culture (WVC), the
National Organisation for Municipalities and Sport (LC) and the two Institutes for Higher Education in Groningen (the University of Groningen and Groningen University of Applied Science).