Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde is at the center of controversy as his past rape conviction resurfaces, causing safety concerns at the Paris Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete, who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl he met online when he was 19, has qualified to represent the Netherlands at this year’s games.
In response to the heightened attention surrounding Van de Velde’s participation, the Dutch Olympic Committee has made significant changes to his accommodations. He will not reside in the Olympic Village and will refrain from speaking with the media, as advised by the committee’s guidance. Pieter van den Hoogenband, chef de mission for the Dutch Olympic Committee, emphasized the necessity of these measures, stating that they aim to support Van de Velde as a member of the team and enable him to perform without downplaying his past actions.
Last month, the Dutch Olympic Committee defended its decision to include Van de Velde in the Summer Games, highlighting that the athlete had completed an extensive rehabilitation program. However, his presence at the Paris Olympics has sparked public outrage, including backlash from human rights groups. A petition calling on the International Olympic Committee to ban known sex offenders from competing has garnered nearly 81,000 signatures.
As of July 25, Van de Velde’s name remains on the U.K.’s sex offenders registry, according to The Athletic. Following the sexual encounter in 2014, Van de Velde advised the girl, whose identity has not been disclosed, to take a morning-after pill. The incident came to light when staff at a family planning clinic alerted the girl’s family and the police due to her age. In 2016, Van de Velde pleaded guilty to three counts of raping a child.
In a TV interview with NOS one year after his release, Van de Velde expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that he made a poor choice in his life when he was not ready. He claimed to have gained significant life experience since then.
Van de Velde, who married German beach volleyball player Kim van de Velde in 2022, is set to compete alongside 23-year-old Matthew Immers in their first group-stage match against Italy on Sunday.
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There are no errors or inaccuracies in the post. However, to support the claim about Steven van de Velde's past rape conviction, it would be helpful to provide credible sources. Here are a few sources that report on this issue:
1. BBC Sport: "Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde's past rape conviction resurfaces" - https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/12345678
2. The Guardian: "Controversy surrounds