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Original poster

To boycott the Olympics for allowing a rapist to compete

293 replies

Fluffyelephant · 28/07/2024 11:21

I cannot believe in this day and age a convicted child rapist has been allowed to compete in the Olympics.

I know he was booed when he was competing but that's not enough. He never should have been allowed to compete in the first place and as a result I'm not watching any of the Olympics and encouraging others to do the same. I know that means other legitimate athletes will sadly be punished for the actions of one man and the decision makers for the Olympics - but what else can you do to send a message it's unacceptable?

For context, the volleyball player raped a 12 year old girl in Britain who he met online when he was 19 and was convicted in 2016. To add further insult to injury he only served 1 year of the sentence and seems to have gone on to marry a police officer!? He also has since said he's not a pedophile (although admits he did do what he was accused of) and that the media saying he is one is 'a load of nonsense'.

Unbelievable that this isn't considered more serious in a country like the Netherlands or by the Olympics itself.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cpd9e0r2dxmo

OP posts:
SpudleyLass · 28/07/2024 15:54

ForeverAutumnCrow · 28/07/2024 15:51

We do not in the jurisdiction of England & Wales have the crime of 'statutory rape'.

It is rape or it is not rape.

Van de Velde, who is now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping the British girl. He had flown to England to meet her in 2014 with full knowledge of her age, having met her on Facebook. Van de Velde served 12 months in a British prison, before being transferred to his home country where he was released after a further month.

Any other legal points I can help you with?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/dutch-child-rapist-steven-van-de-velde-boos-paris-olympics#:~:text=Van%20de%20Velde%2C%20who%20is,having%20met%20her%20on%20Facebook.

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Sorry that was actually me and I did not know that.

Ilovetowander · 28/07/2024 15:53

An awful crime which he has served a sentence for. He has been allowed back into society already so I can't see how different rules apply to the Olympic as they would to playing on a local or national team.

ilovesooty · 28/07/2024 15:53

capstix · 28/07/2024 15:51

I completely agree with every point you've made.

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Yes, so do I.

ForeverAutumnCrow · 28/07/2024 15:51

Concernedpasserby · 28/07/2024 15:48

Well that's my point
It's statutory rape (not a term any more I believe but) which is very bad, but (unfortunately) not the worst possible crime against a 12 Yr old.
That's not minimising. It's just not exaggerating.

Show quote history

We do not in the jurisdiction of England & Wales have the crime of 'statutory rape'.

It is rape or it is not rape.

Van de Velde, who is now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping the British girl. He had flown to England to meet her in 2014 with full knowledge of her age, having met her on Facebook. Van de Velde served 12 months in a British prison, before being transferred to his home country where he was released after a further month.

Any other legal points I can help you with?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/dutch-child-rapist-steven-van-de-velde-boos-paris-olympics#:~:text=Van%20de%20Velde%2C%20who%20is,having%20met%20her%20on%20Facebook.

Dutch child rapist greeted with boos – and applause – before Olympics loss

A convicted child rapist competing for the Netherlands was met with boos – and some applause – as he walked out for his first beach volleyball match

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/dutch-child-rapist-steven-van-de-velde-boos-paris-olympics#:~:text=Van%20de%20Velde%2C%20who%20is,having%20met%20her%20on%20Facebook.

deeahgwitch · 28/07/2024 15:51

paulhollywoodshairgel · 28/07/2024 12:50

Also the fact someone married him and had a child with him. Just blows my mind.

They banned someone for mistreating a horse but let a child rapist compete. What???

I agree.
But I do believe Charlotte Dujardin should be banned.

capstix · 28/07/2024 15:51

Wordsmithery · 28/07/2024 15:08

I do partially agree insofar as he's served his sentence and like anybody else is entitled to reenter society and the workplace (child protection laws notwithstanding). But there are some troubling details:

  1. The lenient sentence
  2. The even more lenient length of time served
  3. The fact that a convicted criminal was chosen to represent his country. That's a position of great honour.
This does all leave a seriously sour taste in the mouth and reflects poorly on the Dutch legal system and selection committee.
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I completely agree with every point you've made.

LouSassole · 28/07/2024 15:50

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SpudleyLass · 28/07/2024 15:50

Concernedpasserby · 28/07/2024 15:48

Well that's my point
It's statutory rape (not a term any more I believe but) which is very bad, but (unfortunately) not the worst possible crime against a 12 Yr old.
That's not minimising. It's just not exaggerating.

Show quote history

I'm not going to get into the farce of comparing and contrasting severity of rape cases. I'd need a hot shower after doing any such thing.

But how is raping a 12 year old child not the worst possible crime to commit against said child?

I'm genuinely gobsmacked.

capstix · 28/07/2024 15:50

Narwhal23456 · 28/07/2024 14:50

Urgh what is wrong with you... sympathiser.

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Enjoy your bandwagon.

paperrockscissors · 28/07/2024 15:48

YANBU. Is there a line that cannot be crossed I wonder or can anyone compete regardless of any crimes they have been convicted of? It sends completely the wrong message.

capstix · 28/07/2024 15:48

user1484056932 · 28/07/2024 13:58

Another brainwashed member of society that's full of TDS, embarrassing to mention Trump when talking about a child rapist representing his country at the Olympics.

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I'm not another brainwashed member of society. My comments were measured and reasonable. I made a valid point.

Concernedpasserby · 28/07/2024 15:48

SpudleyLass · 28/07/2024 15:43

People are upset because it seems like there is always a way to be found to minimise a rape case in its severity.

A 12 year old is pretty firmly in child territory and so how she feels about the arrest is irrelevant. It was statutory rape, which you seem to be not getting your head around.

This isn't about feelings - its about a man who has committed the worst possible crime against a 12 year old child.

Show quote history

Well that's my point
It's statutory rape (not a term any more I believe but) which is very bad, but (unfortunately) not the worst possible crime against a 12 Yr old.
That's not minimising. It's just not exaggerating.

Saoirse96 · 28/07/2024 15:48

Someone can be rehabilitated, sure. Maybe even allowed to have a normal life, get a job, have a house. But should they be lauded as a representation of their country? Should they be praised for having therapy? Nah.

BadLad · 28/07/2024 15:48

Cantalever · 28/07/2024 14:40

To those saying he's done his time, etc. - (1) for raping a 12 year old, he got four years imprisonment - FOUR YEARS for deliberately grooming online and travelling to England to rape a child. That is an offensively lenient sentence for that crime. (2) He did only ONE YEAR in prison - why? Why only a quarter of what was already a far too lenient a sentence? (3) He says now he will have to live with it. No mention of the young life he has has scarred, and how she is living with it.
(4) Today's Times has an article about the inequality of allowing a male child rapist to compete, but banning a woman show jumper (about to break records in this Olympics) because with strange timing a four year old video surfaced allegedly showing her whipping a horse and she has been banned from competing in the Games. The IOC is as sexist as they come. Apart from sexism, they have allowed someone with a serious conviction to take part, and banned someone else whose actions are still being investigated. Where is the logic in that?

about your last point, Dujardin withdrew - the IOC didn’t ban her. I couldn’t agree more that this pedo rapist shouldn’t be competing, but it doesn’t sound from the BBC as if the IOC are being sexist by banning Dujardin because she’s female and letting rapist compete because he’s male.

ilovesooty · 28/07/2024 15:47

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Reported again. You evidently don't know how to debate civilly.

Saoirse96 · 28/07/2024 15:46

For people trying to minimise the impact of what he did - you clearly do not have any personal experience or know anyone personally who has been through similar. I can guarantee that she will be impacted negatively by this for the rest of her life, to say it lightly.

crumblingschools · 28/07/2024 15:45

@Concernedpasserby she self harmed as a result of what he did. If he had been a decent human being he would have walked away whether she wanted sex or not once he knew her age. He violated her whether or not force was involved

Couldentgiveafuck · 28/07/2024 15:44

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SpudleyLass · 28/07/2024 15:43

Concernedpasserby · 28/07/2024 15:39

Agree
And I haven't said otherwise
I wanted to counter the claims by many who have never met her that she is living a life sentence....we don't know that but it's hyperbole.

I am in no way defending what he did but unfortunately it is far from one of the worst examples and acting like it is is misleading. That's not justification, that's what law, convictions and sentences are all about.

Show quote history

People are upset because it seems like there is always a way to be found to minimise a rape case in its severity.

A 12 year old is pretty firmly in child territory and so how she feels about the arrest is irrelevant. It was statutory rape, which you seem to be not getting your head around.

This isn't about feelings - its about a man who has committed the worst possible crime against a 12 year old child.

LouSassole · 28/07/2024 15:43

This reply has been deleted

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ilovesooty · 28/07/2024 15:40

LouSassole · 28/07/2024 15:37

Once a nonce always a nonce. Strange thing for him to do, he doesnt look your stereotypical nonce.

What does a stereotypical "nonce" look like then?

Concernedpasserby · 28/07/2024 15:39

SpudleyLass · 28/07/2024 15:35

What she felt is actually pretty common.

That doesn't lessen what he did.

The crime is measured by what HE did that was contrary to the law and not in how SHE felt about it.

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Agree
And I haven't said otherwise
I wanted to counter the claims by many who have never met her that she is living a life sentence....we don't know that but it's hyperbole.

I am in no way defending what he did but unfortunately it is far from one of the worst examples and acting like it is is misleading. That's not justification, that's what law, convictions and sentences are all about.

Saoirse96 · 28/07/2024 15:39

Shame on the 15% who said that the OP is being unreasonable. Absolute SHAME.

LouSassole · 28/07/2024 15:37

Once a nonce always a nonce. Strange thing for him to do, he doesnt look your stereotypical nonce.

Zimunya · 28/07/2024 15:35

It’s boycotted in our house. Because of this rapist competing and also because Russia is banned (which I agree with), but Israel is not.

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