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

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.

Do you know that @Concernedpasserby is a man?

I don't think that the Dutch Olympic Committee should have selected him and the IOC don't seem to have realised how badly his selection would be received. I doubt if we can tell how remorseful he is from what's emerged in the press but that isn't really the point. It doesn't reflect well on the selection committee to have endorsed his selection.

I have boycotted and shouted it everywhere I can. Got told "there's always one' on MN yesterday as I was BU!

Thank you got defending women and children from the patriarchy. Youre doing a good thing, awareness is key.

It is hard but a just cause.

I think raping a 12 year old is certainly one of the worst crimes imaginable.

12 year olds do daft things, but even when she told him her true age, he still did what he did.

He and his ilk are a plague upon this planet and this is the sort of crime we absolutely should have a no tolerance policy on.

YANBU.

Some crimes are so serious that people convicted of them should not be allowed to represent their country for anything. Murder, rape, sexual offences against children.

I'm not saying these people should be imprisoned for life (but the sentences are often far too lenient) but they shouldn't have the honour of representing their country either. You can still live your life, work and enjoy a reasonable amount of success, without having access to international events like this.

You clearly have not comprehended what I wrote.
I have said he was completely at fault.
If a 12 yr old has sex with a 12 Yr old neither has been groomed the other.

And was he 12 years old?

No he wasn't. He was a full grown adult.

He is disgusting and should not be at the Olympics. It can take time for trauma to show up, btw. Years, even.

Where have I said she is to blame??

I think it's fine if a country want to send a child rapist to the Olympics, as long as he's not allowed in the Olympic Village and no one tries to hide it. If that country has decided they want to select a child rapist to REPRESENT their country so be it. They can't get upset if everyone gets upset and is repulsed by it. If that's the finest athlete your country wants to offer then that's on you.

The brass neck of him though, for even competing in the first place!

Reported.

Dont forget all the abuse that goes on training these athletes. Its all corrupt as fuck. Do you think those scrawny gymnasts have a good life or are treat like shite while their trainers sadistically abuse them?

He had sex with a 12 year old. He should not have had sex with a 12 year old. End of

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.

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.

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

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

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.

What does a stereotypical "nonce" look like then?

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.