Convicted child rapist to represent the Netherlands at the Olympic Games in Paris

A convicted child rapist will compete in the Paris Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, 29, who was selected for the Dutch beach volleyball team last month, was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl two years earlier, when he was 19, Reuters reported.

In England, as in the US, rape of minors is defined as non-consensual sexual acts in which one of the parties involved is under the age required to consent to the conduct.

After serving part of his sentence in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the Netherlands, where his sentence was adapted to the standards of Dutch law.

Van de Velde has been playing beach volleyball since his release in 2017. Despite the ugly images and criticism from human rights organizations, he seems to be supported by the Nevobo, the country’s volleyball association.

“We know Steven’s history…”, says Michel Everaert, general manager at Nevobo. “He was convicted under English law at the time and served his sentence. Since then, we have been in constant contact with Steven, who has now been fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community.”

“He has proven to be an exemplary professional and human being and there is no reason to doubt him since his return. We fully support him and his participation in Paris, which he and Matthew have earned.”

In 2018, Van de Velde told NOS: “I did what I did. I can’t undo it, so I’ll have to bear the consequences. You can of course judge. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.”

The Netherlands, which has won one medal in Olympic beach volleyball history, is one of six countries with two teams in the men’s tournament.

His presence in Paris has raised concerns among many advocacy groups.

Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, said in a statement to CNN that the organization is “deeply concerned that someone convicted of sexual abuse of a minor will be able to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.”

“With teams from all over the world about to gather in Paris, many of whom are small athletes, it sends a dangerous message that medals and money are more important than their safety. Participation in sport is a privilege, not a right,” she added.

The beach volleyball tournaments are among the most popular during the Summer Games. The men’s and women’s tournaments are held at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Champ de Mars from 27 July to 10 August.