Convicted rapist Steven van de Velde will make his Olympic debut in Paris despite continued controversy around his involvement.
The Dutch beach volleyball player, who is in action at the Games on Sunday, served time in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old British girl in 2016.
Van de Velde, who was 19 at the time, admitted three counts of rape after the incident in August 2014 and was sentenced to four years in prison.
The Dutchman travelled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes to meet his victim with full knowledge of her age having met on Facebook.
After pleading guilty, the now-29-year-old served just 12 months in a British prison, before being transferred back to the Netherlands, where he was released the following month.
At his trial, Judge Francis Sheridan said: “You were a potential Olympian. You had the possibility of a stellar future representing the Netherlands.”
However, that is indeed what Van de Velde has ended up doing in Paris anyway after being allowed to resume his volleyball career.
He was selected in June for the Dutch Olympic team for Paris and will partner Matthew Immers against Italy’s Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula at the Eiffel Tower stadium.
Why is Van de Velde allowed to play?
The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) claimed Van de Velde was allowed to return to sport in 2017 ‘following a specialist treatment programme’.
A statement stated Van de Velde ‘met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence’ and that ‘experts’ have told them that there is no risk of reoffence.
It added: “Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved.”
The NOC argued that his involvement met NeVoBo’s (Dutch Volleyball Federation) ‘Guidelines Integrity Record’, which outlines the conditions for athletes to resume competing after conviction.
Why is he allowed to be at the Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee have claimed that the selection of athletes for the Games was the responsibility of individual committees.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams was quizzed on whether Olympic chiefs are comfortable with Van de Velde’s situation.
The NOC stated they implemented ‘concrete measures to ensure a safe sporting environment’, which involved Van de Velde not staying in the Olympic Village.
“To characterise it as comfortable and happy would not be correct,” IOC spokesperson Adams told a Paris press conference.
“We have made it clear we have been in long conversations with the Dutch National Olympic Committee. A crime occurred 10 years ago, a great deal of rehabilitation has taken place and strong safeguarding is in place.
“The athlete is not even staying in the village. We feel the NOC have explained their decision. Comfortable and happy, characterise it how you want, but the statement that they have given to us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is.”
What has been said?
Dutch chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband said: “He’s not going to downplay it [his conviction].
“We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to be able to perform.
“He has participated in World Cups, European Championships and World Cups, but you see that around the Games it is different. Things are amplified around the Games.
“We have taken good steps together. All the athletes are dear to me and I try to support them.”
Van de Velde is doing no media during the Games but did post a statement on the Netherlands Volleyball Federation’s website.
He said: “I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract the attention of international media.
“I cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”
News Summary:
- Why is convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde allowed to play at Paris Olympics as IOC explain decision
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