Dutch Volleyball player who raped 12-year-old British girl qualifies for Paris Olympics

Well now I know never to visit the Netherlands, especially with children.

Disgusting pedophile. I hope someone takes action.

This world is absolutely mad, the worse you are they take pity on you and all the do gooders want to make you better.
Tell this to that poor little girl.
They need to bring back the death penalty for people like him not glorify him.

If he grew up super focused on elite sport he likely was pretty immature at 19 so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he’s done something incredibly stupid

SHE WAS TWELVE. You disgusting apologist @Temushopper

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2016/03/dutch-beach-volleyball-player-gets-four-years-for-rape-of-girl-12/ Article in the Netherlands from the time of the court case. They have painted him as a victim to some extend and are showing sympathy towards him. They clearly don’t see it as rape.

He might not be reading the room of foreigners but I am not sure it’s seen as a big issue in the Netherlands which is the audience he was writing to

https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/child-rapist-banished-from-olympic-village/news-story/5ad3c8118483067c2412d1da17fc4c80

Head of sport at Dutch newspaper Trouw, John Graat said in a controversial column: “Steven van de Velde will be sitting alone in a hotel somewhere in Paris from next week, like an outcast who has been rejected by the Olympic ‘family’. I think it’s sad.”

old mate, John’s not reading the room very well. Needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Other reports have blamed foreign media, especially in the UK and Australia, for increasing pressure over his inclusion.

From what I understand under Dutch law his conviction was reclassified to a lesser one when he was sent back there after spending one year jailed in England . So not as serious as rape, but something else.

And that’s why he served just one month there, after he was transferred from England. Then he went straight back into the Dutch volleyball scene. So much for his Olympic dream being “shattered” which is what the sentencing judge said.

His wife is a police officer and mother. The mind boggles.

The athlete (and mother) Paula Radcliffe spoke up in his defence recently but backtracked after all the backlash she got. I kind of believe she said what she meant though which is shocking.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paula-radcliffe-olympics-2024-steven-van-de-velde-b2585577.html

Honestly shame on all involved in trying to justify this.

https://www.mamamia.com.au/steven-van-de-velde-rape-olympics/amp/

He was convicted in England and then went to Serve the sentence in the Netherlands where they released him

I honestly hadn't realised that, @LiquoriceAllsorts2, though at least it explains how he came to be convicted at all

Hard not to wonder what the Dutch attitude to our judicial processes was when they selected him ...

Well he probably wouldn’t have been convicted in Netherlands which is why the Dutch Olympic committee thinks it’s fine.

he was convicted in England and then went to Serve rhe sentence in the Netherlands where they released him

I know a PP mentioned this but the comparison to Charlotte Dujardin is really valid. She has been banned ( rightly ) for breaching the FEI code of conduct four years ago, despite not being charged/ convicted of an actual crime ( not justifying her terrible actions) .
She has acknowledged her wrongdoing, apologised and bowed out. Her career is in tatters. I cannot see her representing GB ever again. But we’re all supposed to forgive and forget with this hideous child abuser!!!

@Puzzledandpissedoff Ugh that’s crazy! And how awful and misleading that a political party advocating for paedophiles was called : Party for Neighbourly Love, Freedom, and Diversity 🤮

I’m relieved to hear it’s been dissolved but it’s sad it was ever a thing

It’s absolutely shameful that the Dutch committee have signed this convicted rapist off

I agree @Whatshappning, but then this is the Netherlands we're talking about, and lovely as the place and most people are they've got liberalism like a disease

In a nation which allows parties which advocates for paedophilia to campaign for election, it may well be considered a surprise that van de Velde was convicted at all

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jul/18/topstories3.mainsection

Typo

It's deeply awful, i'm really angry that he's allowed to compete

The problem surely lies with the selection rules in the Netherlands. He should never have been in a position to be selected.

He's also appears to have no remorse or empathy for his victim - only himself.

I cannot understand why anyone would try to justify his inclusion.

Good to read in there that the rules in the UK would not have allowed him to compete for TeamGB.

It's getting more coverage now, and concerns seem to be widespread:
Today's Guardian:

Those specific cases should then go to the committee to discuss, the situations you allude to are going to be very rare no doubt. I’m not sure if a country which did that kind of thing would be putting forward such a person for their Olympics even now tbh sadly.

But no, I don’t think we shouldn’t have sensible rules about banning actual murderers and rapists because of the tiny chance of someone innocent getting affected by those rules.

Banning murderers and rapists from Olympics really shouldn’t be controversial.

His competing in the Olympics is disgusting. The Netherlands should be ashamed of putting him on the team.

I hope all his matches are met with protests. I hope he is booed every time he touches the ball. i hope the Netherlands lose because of him.🙏

And what if that murder charge was the result of having an abortion after being raped or having a miscarriage?
its very difficult when rules/ what is acceptable varies so much throughout the world

Indeed @VickyEadieofThigh it’s awful that the Dutch committee and anyone else, including him is even trying to justify it. The fact he isn’t offering himself to stand down shows the extent of his “remorse”
and how he still has the entitled mindset of a rapist.

I do acknowledge people are less likely to reoffend if they aren’t entirely ostracised from society forever.

Not being allowed to compete in the Olympics isn’t being ostracised forever from society. Most of us will not compete in the Olympics. It’s hardly a rite of passage. There was a young woman who can no longer compete with Japan anymore because she smoked. I’m sure she’s gutted, but life goes on.

If she can cope with not being able to compete despite the fact she didn’t harm anyone other than herself, I think the convicted paedophile could cope with not being allowed to compete on the basis that he has ruined or at least severely damaged someone’s childhood and entire life.

He is married with a kid, which is sickening, but the point is he now seems to have a normal family life and is thriving in his professional/personal pursuits which is more than can be said for a lot of rape survivors. He is hardly ostracised!

I think we need to get away from this idea there must be little to no lasting consequences for rapists and murderers and paedophile etc. While I’m not advocating the death penalty, I don’t think they should be able to do whatever they want because “it’s in the past” , when the crimes they committed have lifelong consequences for the victims and their family.

There has to be limits. It’s bad enough he was free after one year but being allowed to compete in the Olympics is just a step too far.

I find his inclusion absolutely outrageous. It's a fucking disgrace.

This exactly.

What the actual FUCK??

He was a 19 year old man who successfully executed a carefully planned rape in a foreign country on a pre-teen, hardly served any time (one year!!) then had the nerve to express indignance about people thinking of him as a “monster”.

His behaviour leading up to, during and after this crime was extremely disturbing, arrogant evil to the core and inexcusable.

It doesn’t strike me as childlike or immature with all the planning that went on behind this disgusting grooming and subsequent rape, but even if he was “immature” for his age that is zero excuse.

If he had a grain of decency or humility he would lie low and realise it was inappropriate for him to represent his country.

It’s shameful and sends out the wrong message to rape victims and rapists.

Joanna Maranhao, network co-ordinator of the Athletes Network for Safer Sports, said Van de Velde's "participation is already causing further harm to people with lived experience".
She added: “Athletes who compete at the prestigious level of the Olympic Games are often perceived as heroes and role models – Van de Velde should not receive this honour."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cx721j6n6w3o.amp

They should have some rules which apply to all countries. Example anyone with a murder or rape conviction can’t compete.