Dutch Olympian who raped 12-year-old girl ‘is not a pedophile,’ says official | Paris 2024 Olympic Games

A senior official at the Dutch Olympic Committee insisted in an email seen by the Guardian that a convicted child abuser on the Dutch team’s beach volleyball team was not a paedophile.

A concerned Briton who has lived in the Netherlands for more than a decade wrote to the Dutch Olympic Committee, calling the inclusion of Steven van de Velde in the team a “stain on the Dutch national team.” In response, the Dutch Olympic Committee spokesperson wrote: “Steven is NOT a paedophile (sic); you really don’t think the Dutch NOC would send someone to Paris who poses a real risk? No, he is not a risk.”

Public outrage is growing over the participation of beach volleyball player Van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl in 2016. Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee faced calls to launch an investigation into how a convicted child molester was allowed to compete at Paris 2024. The IOC has said the selection of athletes for the Games is the responsibility of individual committees.

Van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping the girl in Milton Keynes. He had flown to England to meet her in 2014 despite knowing how old she was, having met her on Facebook. He served 12 months in a British prison before being transferred to his home country, where he was released after a further month.

The backlash casts a shadow over one of the most spectacular events of the Olympics, held in an open-air stadium at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Van de Velde is scheduled to play on Sunday.

In a statement, the Netherlands Olympic Committee*Nederlandse Sport Federatie’ (NOC*NSF) said it had taken “concrete measures” to ensure a safe sporting environment for all Olympic participants in light of Van de Velde’s participation. At his request, he will not stay overnight in the Olympic Village or make any press appearances.

NOC*NSF stated: “Van de Velde has fully complied with all requirements and adhered to all stringent risk assessment thresholds, controls and due diligence procedures. Experts have stated that there is no risk of reoffending. Van de Velde has remained transparent throughout about the case, which he describes as the biggest misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has spoken openly about the personal change he has undergone as a result.”

The Briton said he was “shocked” by the response he received after writing to the Dutch Olympic Committee’s press team asking what the communications strategy would be if Van de Velde won a medal. The man – who wishes to remain anonymous – labelled Van de Velde “a paedophile and convicted child molester” and asked what his victim and her parents said about his participation.

In addition to denying that he was a pedophile, the official also urged him to read more about the case and not “believe all the headlines.” The official added: “We are taking measures to ensure that everyone can focus on the sport, on the games. Not on the story of the past of this beach volleyball player who has participated in all international tournaments since 2018.”

The Dutch NOC continues to come under criticism from groups representing victims of sexual abuse. One group accused the committee of having “not thought at all about the impact it could have on victims if they see a child molester at the Olympic Games.”

The Brave Movement, a movement of survivors of sexual violence against children that is part of Together for Girls, said it had not been consulted by the Dutch Olympic Committee. In an open letter, it said the child raped by Van de Velde would face “lifelong consequences.” It also said: “Perpetrators move on. Those who abuse them seek healing and justice. We need a world that centers on survivors, not perpetrators.”

The Brave movement added that there was “still time” for Van de Velde to resign or for the Dutch Olympic Committee to withdraw him. “We believe that this is the only appropriate measure,” it said.