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

What's your point?
Have I not said we do not have statutory rape in my post? I did not use the term first.
The sentence of 4 years (even back in 2016) was very low for the offence.

Why not bring Oscar Pistorius back while they’re at it? I’m really disgusted that’s he’s competing. I don’t think he’s served anywhere near a reasonable sentence, and even if he had, I think a consequence of his actions should be that he doesn’t get to represent his country at big events like nothing has happened.

Is pistorious really competing?!?!?

No,, I understand what you're trying to say.

I'm just grossed out by your claims of ''exaggeration'' and ''hyperbole''.

The overwhelming majority of rape victims clearly are traumatised by the event - so the chances that she won't be is a) slim to none and b) IRRELEVANT.

Now if that is an issue we're experiencing in our sentencing guidelines, then maybe we require change to actually get justice for victims of rape and sexual assault.

At the very least, we shouldn't be putting these monsters up at the Olympics. Grim, grim grim.

I haven’t heard that he is. I’m just having a rant.

Ah i see.

Well this paedo shouldnt be competing. Has he no shame? He should be locked up with the key thrown away not mincing about like Tom Cruise and Goose in Top Gun.

I think it's an utterly insane decision for the Dutch to put him forward.
the amount of bad press from the world's media vs, what...the off chance of getting a bronze medal in fucking beach volleyball?

I have no idea how well/badly the dutch usually do in the olympics but does one (not particularly high profile) sport actually matter that much vs presenting yourself as a country that thinks child rape is completely fine on the world stage?
(not to mention I'm sure there are at least some dutch MN-equivalent female/child support groups that are disgusted)

(my understanding from the bbc article is the Dutch Volleyball Committee and Dutch Olympic committee are in charge of selecting/approving athletes - I assume they would have the equivalent of our minister for sport/culture who would be able to overrule any potentially dodgy options, and if not that the country would disassociate itself from it - but it appears the dutch govt etc are completely backing him).

Not sure what you're on about here. We know he raped a 12 year old. Also we know a 12 year old is a child. Your point please?

Yes.

This poster articulates.it perfectly!

Nevermind debt to society. What about his debt to that girl?

Precisely.

I can't imagine how that girl and her loved ones feel about seeing him compete in the highest eschelons of sport, viewed by millions.

I am not blaming the victim.But her self harm was not because she felt violated, or was forced to have sex, but because she felt guilt that he was arrested.

She self harms because she was raped as a child. Her guilt is just one of the numerous layers of pain felt by survivors of child sex abuse. She feels that way because she was raped by an adult man when she was 12.

It is Van de Verde's fault she feels that way. If he hadn't raped her, she wouldn't. I don't know what point you're trying to make here @Concernedpasserby.

There are criteria. Set by each country. The Netherlands committee allowed him to be selected so that's a representation of their values.

He doesn't really have a debt to anyone. I don't want him repaying anyone no one wants anything from him, he's a no one

Hopefully they feel like the world is on their side wondering why a country would choose to send him

A major difference between Charlotte D & the Rapist...
CD acted contrary to rules of her sport

No sport has " Dont rape Children" in its rules because its common sense...

So by their logic he hasn't done anything wrong...

However it does remind me of the footballer convicted of rape 10ish years ago... clubs were pressured not to sign him, even though they wanted. Conviction later overturned (which is why I'm not using the name here) and he is playing again.

This ^^

I suspect the Dutch are more laid back about such filth than us. If he'd been UK, someone would probably have had a word in the ear about it being bad for business.

He didn't serve four years though, did he?

And the Americans losing their collective mind has nothing to do with it

@capstix USA has nothing to do with this. The Donald has never served time.

Yes. It shows exactly how (un) important children & women are in the world.

Ive no idea how any woman could be with him knowing how his mind works and where his dicks been.

Makes me so sad 😞

If they have literally no place 'in society' then what is the alternative?
They must live somewhere, earn their keep somehow, and purchase food and other essentials from someone. No one should be forced to interact with anyone they don't want to, but realistically unless the death penalty is reinstated one has to accept that people who have done awful things do, at some point, have to re-enter society in some capacity.
That being said, my personal view is that the Netherlands made a big mistake in selecting this person for such a visible position, and it sends a poor message to their own female athletes about respect and values, since Olympic athletes are expected to be role models.
I won't be boycotting the Olympics because expecting the thousands of other athletes, who have trained almost their whole lives for this, to refuse to participate because of a decision they had no part in would be ridiculous.

@paulhollywoodshairgel totally agree.
The video of the horse being whipped was really upsetting, but a child rapist is allowed to compete! So wrong.
@Willyoushutthefrontdoor I read an article about this yesterday, his partner spoke highly of him, said he was like a father figure. Wonder if he’d let him
babysit any of his young female relatives.