The Dutch Olympic Committee has taken steps to address the controversy surrounding the inclusion of convicted rapist Steven van de Velde on their beach volleyball team for the Paris Olympics. Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl. He has since served part of his sentence and returned to competing in beach volleyball.
The committee’s decision to include van de Velde has drawn criticism from women’s advocacy groups, who argue that it sends a message that sporting prowess trumps criminal justice. In response to the backlash, the committee has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of van de Velde’s participation, including relocating him to alternative accommodation in Paris and prohibiting him from speaking to the media.
Chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband stated that the committee is committed to supporting van de Velde as a member of the team while acknowledging the seriousness of his past actions. However, Kate Seary, co-founder and director of Kyniska Advocacy, a group dedicated to protecting women in sports, expressed concern, stating that van de Velde’s inclusion sends a harmful message.
Van den Hoogenband expressed surprise at the level of criticism, noting that van de Velde has been active in international sport for several years, participating in world cups and European championships. He attributes the intensified scrutiny to the heightened media attention surrounding the Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee has clarified that it does not have a role in athlete selection for the Olympics, emphasizing that the decision rests with each national committee. While acknowledging the controversy, the IOC has stressed the importance of safeguarding measures implemented by the Dutch Olympic Committee.
