A convicted child rapist making his debut at the Olympics is causing quite a stir. On Sunday morning (28 July) at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Steven van de Velde, an athlete from the Netherlands team, competed in the preliminary phase of the beach volleyball men’s tournament. However, he was met with boos from the crowds.
Van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison back in March 2016 after confessing to three counts of rape against a 12-year-old child. His inclusion in the games has sparked controversy, with many questioning how a child sex offender was allowed to participate.
According to his own confession, Van de Velde traveled to the UK in 2014 at the age of 19 to meet the underage victim whom he had been communicating with on Facebook. He admitted to three counts of rape against the girl. Despite being found guilty, Van de Velde served only 12 months before being released early.
The Dutch Olympic Committee argues that Van de Velde has been rehabilitated and deserves his place in the games. However, the crowd’s reaction suggests that many disagree with this decision.
On Sunday, Van de Velde arrived with teammate Matthew Immers for their match against Italian athletes Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula. While there was no cheering, some boos could be heard from the crowds.
Why has Steven van de Velde been allowed to compete at the Olympics?
In response to the backlash, Pieter van den Hoogenband, team boss for the Netherlands, has defended his decision to let Van de Velde compete. He explained that measures have been taken to manage the situation, including a ban on all media interviews and providing separate accommodation away from the Olympic village.
Van den Hoogenband stated, “Steven has been active in international sports and the beach volleyball world for a long time. But then you see that things are different around the Games. That things are exaggerated around the Games.” He believes that Van de Velde deserves support from spectators.
What have Steven van de Velde’s teammates said?
Van de Velde’s teammate, Matthew Immers, spoke up in support of him, describing Van de Velde as a “second father” during practice. Immers emphasized that he knows the person Van de Velde has become today and appreciates their partnership on and off the field.
After the news of Van de Velde’s participation broke, he expressed his discontent with this “black period” in his life resurfacing. However, he understands that the attention comes with participating in the biggest sporting event in the world.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), individual committees are responsible for selecting athletes. The IOC spokesperson, Mark Adams, has acknowledged the safety measures in place and the efforts to protect athletes and ensure their well-being.
