To boycott the Olympics for allowing a rapist to compete

[Fluffyelephant]

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

He's not allowed to stay in Olympic Village, but is allowed to be around youngsters in the Olympics says it all.

If you disagree with the Olympic Committee allowing him to compete and as a result you wish to refrain from watching the entire event that is of course a decision you have every right to make.

I don't see why you're seeking to influence other people's decisions though.

Has he fully served his sentence? I mean the prison part and the remaining part out on licence?

I know.

That is concerning yes! Rules should be stricter regarding the Olympics, in ways that perpetrators like him shouldn't be allowed to compete for country. Commit paedophilia, get rights revoked.

Also i worry about the state of the world when so many people endorse trump too!

He is not remorseful
He has no respect for his victim
He didn't serve his full sentence

No way should this child rapist be allowed to compete, what the fuck is wrong with the IOC.

I know...such a shame. Especially when people like USA womens gymnastics team competing who went sexual abuse at hands of medicall staff... must be triggering for those women.

I would boycott it but i never watch it. I find the whole thing a total bore fest.

I don’t hold the olympics themselves accountable for this. I hold the Dutch team selectors accountable.

Not condoning the crime, but the whole point of the criminal justice system is that you serve your sentence and then return to ordinary life. Which is what this guy is doing. It's not for any individual or organisation to then apply some sort of perpetual moral punishment.

Well, this is what democracy is. He was convicted, served his sentence and still has restrictions in place as every sex offender on the register has to abide by.

As much as you can detest him for his horrendous crimes, there is nothing saying he can't do the Olympics, it's not like he's becoming a teacher and coming into contact with children alone.

All of this. The Olympics have completely disgusted me so far this year.

With most other crimes possibly. But rape, no .

Charlotte Dujardin wasn't banned by the IOC though. She withdrew, and was then suspended by our Equestrian Governing body.

They aren't comparable.

That isn't the point at all, that's why probation and sex offenders registers and DBs checks exist. People who commit sex crimes do not come out of prison a new person. Convicted paedos should not be competing in the Olympics

Don’t boycott the Olympics. It won’t be obvious why. Boycott Men’s Beach Volleyball. Then it is obvious why you are doing so.

I'm wondering how 'boycotting the Olympics' actually works, because DH and I don't actually watch them anyway (not interested in sport). Our kids can do what they like.

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.

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.

Agree.

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!

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.

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.

not even the equine sports teams?