Milton Keynes, England – A convicted child rapist, Steven Van De Velde, is set to represent The Netherlands in men’s beach volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This decision has sparked controversy due to his past criminal history. In 2014, Van De Velde, then 19 years old, flew to Milton Keynes, England, where he raped a 12-year-old child he had met on Facebook. Following his arrest, he was sentenced to serve four years in prison, and he was released in 2017.
Despite being placed on the United Kingdom’s sex offender registry for life since 2016, Van De Velde, now 29, has the full support of the Dutch Olympic Committee and the Dutch Volleyball Federation to compete on the world stage. The decision to allow him to represent The Netherlands has raised concerns and garnered criticism from various groups.
Michel Everaert, the general director at Nevobo, defended the decision, stating that extensive discussions were held with Van De Velde and other relevant authorities before allowing his return to beach volleyball. Van De Velde’s case was tried in the United Kingdom at Aylesbury crown court, where it was revealed that the victim had made her age clear to him before the rape occurred.
In a video interview in 2018, Van De Velde expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that it was the biggest mistake of his life. Despite his past, the Dutch Olympic Committee stated that Van De Velde had undergone an intensive, professionally supervised program to enable his return to the sport. The committee affirmed that he now meets all the qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team.
Addressing the emotional harm caused to the victim, the judge emphasized the significant impact Van De Velde’s actions had on the child. Despite the severity of his offense, Van De Velde’s future in the sport seemed promising before his conviction in 2016. Nevobo’s Everaert expressed regret over the missed opportunity for Van De Velde to achieve success in volleyball but acknowledged the seriousness of his crime.
The controversial decision to allow a convicted child rapist to compete in the Olympics has sparked debate and divided opinions. While Van De Velde has expressed remorse for his actions, concerns remain regarding the message this decision sends to survivors of sexual abuse and the broader implications for the integrity of the sport. The upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will undoubtedly be shadowed by this contentious issue surrounding the participation of a convicted felon in an internationally recognized sporting event.