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

@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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Enjoy your bandwagon.

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.

I completely agree with every point you've made.

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.

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

Yes, so do I.

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.

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

Ok. You're right 😊

Sentenced to 4 years, only served 1.

Get him out of there.

Scary that there are nonce sympathisers on here!! The PP who said that the olympic committee value a horse over a child is correct. Its shameful.

Am I right that he was 18/19, and flew here to knowingly meet and have sex with a 12 year old girl?

If so, How is he allowed to compete is beyond me. Surely there should be certain criteria foe representing your country- not raping girls should certainly be one of them

And he raped a British child in the UK. He is a paedophile.

UN Convention on Rights of the Child is 18. IHL is 15. 12 is clearly a young child.

Well according to the many PP on here he has been rehabiliated which is perfectly ok. TBH he should carry enough shame not to even want to put himself on the world stage. I'm surprised he wasnt damaged in a UK prison.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/rape-of-a-child-under-13/

This may help explain where I am coming from.