Don’t cheer for the Olympic rapist, but let him compete

TThere is a bitter moral battle going on in the sporting competitions at the Olympics. Should Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who admitted to raping a 12-year-old girl in Milton Keynes in 2014 and received a prison sentence for it, be allowed to compete in Paris?

It is easy to make the case against him: it was a heinous crime, made worse by the fact that he committed it knowing the girl’s age. Moreover, he has only served part of his sentence behind bars. That would be a horrific history for any human being, but it makes him particularly unsuitable for participation in games that are supposed to be the highest expression of ideals and integrity.

Added to this is the trauma that his victim suffered, that he may still be suffering, and that this may be exacerbated by seeing him on television with others singing his praises. Then there is the question: what message does it send to the rising generation about the kind of person who is chosen to represent their country and embody its values?

And yet, isn’t the foundation of our legal system that criminals should not only be punished, but also educated and rehabilitated into society? We know only too well that prison gates can be revolving doors, so shouldn’t we celebrate those who leave their past behind, rise above it, and become law-abiding citizens?

This means that society has a responsibility to enable them to do this. This means not allowing their past to become a constant burden that prevents them from starting over. This also means not denying them opportunities to develop their natural abilities, including sport.

To take a parallel case, rider Charlotte Dujardin lost her place in this year’s Olympic Games because she used excessive force against a horse. But if she shows remorse and behaves well from now on, would we not let her compete in four years?

Of course, hers was a much lesser offence, but the principle is the same. Once justice is done, people should be allowed to get on with their lives, otherwise they are effectively receiving a life sentence rather than the one imposed by the court.

Regret is not a fashionable word, but it is nonetheless valid. If we do not allow people to correct their mistakes, we condemn them to repeat them, and society must bear the cost.

I will not cheer for Van de Velde, but I have no doubt that anyone who has broken away from their past and been punished for it should be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.

Jonathan Romain is Rabbi of the Maidenhead Synagogue