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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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..

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

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. )

Fully agree, although I would boycott this crap even if a rapist didn't compete.

I'm not going to be boycotting the olympics but he should absolutely not be competing!

There are so many things wrong here: a country that will let a paedophile represent them, the UK justice system that only made him serve one year for raping a 12 year old, and not to mention the girls parents who didn't monitor their child's online activity for months on end then let her just stay with a friend without checking with the friend or parents. Child neglect.

You can boycott it if you want. It won't change anything.

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.

YANBU @Fluffyelephant. It's disgusting that he is competing. I was heartened to hear he had been booed and lost the match. Let's hope it happens throughout his career.

Organisations need learn that choosing a rapist to represent you means you lose. "Decent" non-rapist men need to learn that they will lose if they team up with a rapist. Losing is the only language they understand!

What?

It's amazing that other nations have pulled female team members for smoking weed, smoking normal cigarettes and hitting a horse, but the Dutch are content to send an actual unrepentent child rapist (who's on the Sex Offender register for life) to compete. I mean, hitting a horse is bad, but it's not quite "child rapist" bad, is it?!