To boycott the Olympics for allowing a rapist to compete

In the Netherlands when you have sex with someone 12 -15 and is wasn’t involuntary then you are not accused of rape, but for something a bit less that translates roughly like “lewdness/fornication”. Sentences for this are much lower then for rape.
Below 12 it will always be rape no matter what.

(Lets be clear : I don’t think this man should have represented my country in the olympics. )

And the dudes with their ball sacks out. What's that all about?

This is disgusting and what’s even more disgusting is the I.O.C have allowed it to happen . What sort of message does this send..

Exactly... like we have dbs checks in UK to stop this happening working with children of vulnerable people... should be same representing country.

Why they don't is beyond me.

He was charged with and convicted of rape in this country. The offence in the Netherlands was fornication
The law has been revised since.

https://www.si.com/olympics/dutch-deserve-backlash-after-letting-steven-van-de-velde-compete-in-paris

Im not sure what difference in UK/NL law people are referring to. The age of consent in both countries is 16, and sex with someone under that age is considered statutory rape. Sex with a minor aged 12-15 in NL carries a sentence of up to 8 years. Can you clarify what you mean here?

I think there is a huge difference between getting on with your life quietly and representing your country on the world stage, at a sporting event that purports to inspire the next generation.

I don't think most people need to be influenced to think this situation is wrong.

And he might be only one man, but he is emblematic of a wider issue - rapists rarely ever facing justice. And in some cases, almost being rewarded for it.

Emphasis on the ''almost'' there, of course.

im glad he got booed-netherlans should be ashame of themselves for letting him repsent their country

I was raped at 12. Now I’m 60 and I am still haunted by it. I didn’t report it because I felt ashamed and that it was somehow my fault. Now my granddaughter is 12 I can see how young and vulnerable I really was. That poor girl doesn’t deserve to see her rapist being lauded on the world stage, how shit it will make her feel. I think child rapists should get a life sentence, just like their victims.

No , I won't be boycotting watching the Olympic Games, or try to influence anyone to because of one person.

I hope everyone's just as concerned that roughly half of Americans are unconcerned that a rapist may be about to become their next President.

If whataboutery ever becomes an Olympic sport, you’re a cert for a medal.

Well now I just feel dirty for reading that.

The poor victim.

No way should this man be allowed to compete at the Olympics - which isn't necessary for an otherwise productive, life - when he has handed her a lifetime of trauma.

This whole thing is gross.

Absolutely this... what a shower of shame!!

He was released under a treaty between the UK and the Netherlands, having committed the offence in England. Presumably the UK authorities were aware of the difference between UK and Dutch law when they entered into that treaty.

He remains on the sex offenders register in this country.

but it isn't and it's not. So people yelling 'they banned a woman for whipping a horse, but not a paedophile raping a 12yo' is a moot point, because it's not true.

It's apples and oranges.

Only in so far as the responses have been polar opposite. the rapist didn’t have the moral standing to withdraw and his sports governing body didn’t have the moral decency to suspend him.

if he had and they had, it would be very much comparable. It should be comparable

Now I don't know the details of the full whole story, but given that the victim that this man has given a full life sentence to, IS British, would it not be the right thing for the British committee to object to his inclusion?

Regardless of borders, allowing a paedophile to participate shames everybody involved.

not even the equine sports teams?

Good point. So they bottom line is that orgs like the Olympics should have rules that prevent unsavoury people becoming ambassadors. Paedophiles, rapists, terrorists, murderers etc etc.

I hope everyone's just as concerned that roughly half of Americans are unconcerned that a rapist may be about to become their next President.

I am really getting tired of the tactic of What about Trump? to deflect from the hideous behaviour of another man and the condoning of it by a world wide sporting organisation.

Is Trump a convicted paedophile rapist? Has he served a sentence for that crime? Is he sanctioned to take part in the Olympics?

Whatever I think of Trump (and it is unprintable) is irrelevant to this story. Stop trying to downgrade and minimise this man's behaviour with a Look over there, that man is worse trope. It is tedious.

Return to ordinary life by all means. Preferably after serving the sentence handed out, which is not the case here.

He and the fucking stupid Dutch selectors could have decided not to parade him on the international stage.

I hope there is a lot of backlash about this!

Agree.

i won't be boycotting it. The decision was made by the Dutch Olympic Committee, i'll still be supporting our athletes to do right by our country because they have done nothing wrong, and nor have the British Olympic Committee.

YANBU.

He didn't even serve his full sentence.

By all means, he should be allowed to work, but he should not be at the Olympics.