Olympic beach volleyball contender's dark past sparks outrage
22 July 2024 15:58
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, while the Dutch have decided to stand by beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde.
Steven van de Velde will compete for a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Dutch beach volleyball player's appearance would likely have gone unnoticed if not for one significant detail.
This player 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 met her through Facebook. The Dutchman communicated with the British girl through the internet, eventually visited and exploited her, and then ordered the girl to take a "morning after" pill. She subsequently attempted suicide.
In 2016, the British government sentenced van de Velde to four years in prison. Moreover, during the trial, he admitted to committing three rapes on children. Nevertheless, after just 12 months, he was released from prison due to extradition. In the Netherlands, his crime was changed from rape to adultery.
Ultimately, he resumed his sports career, earning a ticket to the French capital. The world is furious that someone who harmed children will compete for an Olympic medal. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not reacted to this matter, while the Dutch federation... gave him a second chance and defended him.
- I am a bit surprised by the international outrage. Van de Velde has been active in international sports for some time, in the world of beach volleyball. He participated in the World Cup, world championships, European championships, and other international competitions, but it is clear that the Olympics are different. Everything around the Olympics becomes more intense - said Pieter van den Hoogenband, former swimmer and currently the head of the Dutch Olympic mission for Paris 2024.
- He does not intend to diminish his guilt. We must respect that and help him as a member of the team so that he can compete - he added.
The Dutchman, who will compete in a duo with Matthew Immers, will be treated differently. For safety reasons, he will live outside the Olympic village and will not speak to journalists.
