close
close
news

Disbelief when a child molester is selected to play in the Olympics

People around the world have been left in disbelief after the Netherlands selected a child molester to play in the Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl. However, the athlete served only 12 months of his sentence before being released.

Next month (July 26) the Olympic Games will be held in Paris. (Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Olympic Games will take place in Paris next month (July 26). (Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The incident happened two years earlier, in 2014, and the athlete – who was 19 at the time – met the child on Facebook.

He traveled to the UK and raped the child at an address in Milton Keynes.

During his sentencing, Judge Francis Sheridan told Van de Velde: ‘Before you came to this country, you trained as a potential Olympian. Your hope of representing your country is now a shattered dream.

“Your actions have destroyed your life and if you had never come to England and committed these offences, you could have been a leader in your sport.”

And now the Dutch Olympic Committee has announced that the convicted sex offender will be part of the Dutch beach volleyball team for the upcoming Games in Paris, which start at the end of next month (July 26).

Upon hearing the news, one Instagram user wrote: “Wow… so little time for a lifetime of terrible memories for the girl and her family.”

Steven van de Velde, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl.  (Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Steven van de Velde, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl. (Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

“Are you kidding me?!” knocked out a second. “This is ridiculous. Hopefully the British Olympic Committee will find a way to stop this man from competing.”

Another said: “So inappropriate and unacceptable. Disgusting.”

And a final Instagram user wrote: “He should be banned for life!”

The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) has now responded to the concerns raised by Van de Velde’s participation.

Speaking to BBC Sport, NOC said: “After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional guidance. He demonstrated to the people around him – private and professional – self-insight and reflection.”

The NOC also said the convicted rapist’s return to the sport met the Dutch Volleyball Federation’s (NeVoBo) guidelines in the organization’s ‘Integrity Record Guidelines’, which set out conditions under which athletes can resume competition after conviction.

Tyla has contacted the Dutch Olympic Committee for comment.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak to someone in confidence, please contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, which is available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or require urgent medical attention, you should call 999.

Related Articles

Back to top button