Dutch Olympic decision sparks outrage over convicted athlete
He had sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl, went to prison, and now... he will compete in the Olympic Games. The world is outraged by this fact, while the Dutch have decided to stand by beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde.
In the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Steven van de Velde will compete for a medal among others. The participation of the beach volleyball player from the Netherlands would probably have gone unnoticed if it weren't for one important detail.
The mentioned athlete was sent to prison after having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl. At that time, he was seven years older than her and had met her through Facebook. The Dutchman communicated with the British girl via the internet, eventually visiting her, exploiting her, and then ordering her to take the "morning after" pill. She, in turn, attempted to commit suicide.
In 2016, the British authorities sentenced van de Velde to four years of imprisonment. Moreover, during the trial, he admitted to committing three rapes on children. However, after just 12 months, he was released from prison due to extradition. In the Netherlands, his crime was reclassified from rape to adultery.
Ultimately, he resumed his sports career, which allowed him to secure a ticket to the French capital. The world is angry that someone who has harmed children will compete for an Olympic medal. The IOC did not respond to this matter, while the Dutch federation gave him a second chance and stood in his defence.
- I am a bit surprised by the international outrage. Van de Velde has been active in international sport for some time, in the world of beach volleyball. He has participated in the World Cup, World Championships, European Championships, and other international competitions, but it's clear that things are different at the Olympics. Everything becomes more intense around the Olympics - said Pieter van den Hoogenband, a former swimmer and currently the head of the Dutch Olympic mission in Paris 2024.
- He does not intend to downplay his guilt. We must respect that and help him as a team member to ensure he can compete - he added.
The Dutchman, who will compete in a duet with Matthew Immers, will be treated differently. For safety reasons, he will live outside the Olympic village and not speak to journalists.
