Dutch beach volleyball player and rapist Van de Velde takes part in the Olympics
The Dutch Volleyball Federation has issued a statement on convicted sex offender Steven van de Velde after his successful qualification for the Olympic Games led to increased reporting on his crime by foreign media.
What had happened
Van de Velde had sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl in London in August 2014 when he was 19 years old at the time, an act that is legally classified as rape in the UK. He contacted the girl via Facebook and finally traveled from Amsterdam three months later to meet her in Milton Keyes. That evening he is also alleged to have given her alcohol. He also made sure that no adults such as the child’s parents were present.
In January, he was arrested in the Netherlands and handed over to the British justice system. He was sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 13 months two years after the crime, mostly in a British prison.
Dutch volleyball Association supports van de Velde
With Immers/van de Velde’s successful qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris, more and more articles about his rape were published. As a result, the Dutch volleyball association felt compelled to defend the Dutch beach volleyball player. One of the reasons given for the support is that “the advice of experts” is relied upon, who “estimate the risk of a relapse to be zero”. In addition, van de Velde “gradually returned to top-class sport under expert guidance, including from probation officers and coaches.” He has shown remorse in several media outlets and says himself: “It was the biggest mistake of my life.” Even with his continued behavior, there is “no reason to doubt him.” But he will not be moving into the Olympic Village in Paris.
Should convicted criminals take part in the Olympic Games?
The federation’s decision had to be carefully considered. After all, the Olympic Charter states that the selection of athletes “shall not be based solely on an athlete’s sporting achievements, but also on his or her ability to serve as a role model for the sporting youth of his or her country.” The IOC has not yet commented on the nomination yet.
Opinion
It is undeniable that van de Velde’s act is heinous and disgusting. Therefore, the only question that arises for me is how to deal with such athletes who have committed a criminal offense, served their sentence and want to get back to their previous life.
In a sporting context, he is no longer guilty of anything and is certainly still a role model for many young athletes when it comes to beach volleyball. But I can’t approve of his handling of the issue, only speaking about it when it comes to the boil again. Although when he shows remorse with his statements, it is only in relation to himself. He regrets that he had to spend a year of his life in prison and that it was difficult for him to no longer be liked by everyone. At no point does he put himself in the position of the victim or even do anything to prevent such acts from being committed again.
The public focus was on him after his return anyway, so he could have used this to draw attention to organizations that look after such victims, for example. He could have donated to such organizations. He could also have torpedoed the narrative that “consensual” sex with children is tolerable. He could have done educational work with young girls. Or he could have simply apologized to the girl. Publicly.
For me, he is therefore not a role model with the way he handled his crime. Therefore he is simply someone who plays beach volleyball well.
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Titelbild: Volleyball World