Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse and rape which some readers may find distressing.
The Olympics have well and truly kicked off but amid the drama and excitement, there’s some major controversy.
As the buildup to Friday’s (26 July) opening ceremony grew, so did the calls for an investigation into the inclusion of Steven van de Velde at this year’s games.
However, he remained in the Netherlands squad and made his Olympic debut in a beach volleyball match against Italy this morning (28 July).
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The convicted child rapist was met by boos as he was introduced to the crowd.
And despite the controversy around his selection for the team, the 29-year-old had said he was ‘grateful for the second chance’.
Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016, after admitting three counts of rape against a 12-year-old British girl.
The athlete met the child on Facebook and travelled from Amsterdam to the UK to meet her, with full knowledge of her young age.
He served just 12 months of his sentence and was transferred to the Netherlands where he was released after a month.
In an interview with NOS in 2018, he stressed that he took the blame and said: “I cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”
And ahead of the Olympics, volleybal reported Van de Velde feels a ‘great sense of gratitude’ when he watches that interview back.
"Because of the second chance I got from my parents, my friends, acquaintances and colleagues, who accepted me again after the biggest misstep of my then young life," he said.
"I am also grateful to the Dutch volleyball federation, because they offered me, with clear conditions and agreements, a future in this beautiful sport again life as a top class athlete and unhappy inside, because I didn't know who I was and what I wanted."
When he looks in the mirror, he sees a ‘mature and happy man’.
"Someone with the ability to perform at the Olympics and willing to do and leave a lot for that,” Van de Velde added. “But also, someone who wants to perform in ordinary life, in which we are all involved. In my role as father and husband, in my role as colleague and neighbour."
Rape Crisis England & Wales described the child rapist’s inclusion at the Olympics as ‘shocking’ as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced calls for an investigation into how he has been allowed to compete at Paris 2024.
The BBC reports that the IOC has said individual committees are responsible for the selection of athletes for the Olympics.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said: "They have put out a statement, they've made it very clear there's a lot of safeguarding going on, special extra safeguarding."
LADbible contacted the IOC for further comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
Topics: Olympics, World News, Sport, Crime
Jess Battison