Netherlands names convicted rapist to Olympic beach volleyball team; IOC says it played no role

BERLIN (dpa) – The Olympic governing body has declared that it had no influence on the Dutch Volleyball Association’s decision to nominate a convicted rapist for the games in Paris. An advocacy group for women in sport criticized this selection.

Steven van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in the UK in 2016 after raping a 12-year-old girl two years earlier, when he was 19.

After serving part of his sentence there, he was transferred to the Netherlands and his sentence was adjusted to Dutch law. Van de Velde has been competing in beach volleyball again since 2017 and was named to the Dutch Olympic team last month.

“The nomination of individual team members after qualification on the field is the sole responsibility of the respective National Olympic Committee,” said a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee.

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Neither Van de Velde nor the beach volleyball coach of the Dutch Olympic team were immediately available for comment.

The selection of athletes for the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the individual national NOCs, but the IOC sends individual invitations after the national nominations.

The IOC has the right not to issue or to withdraw invitations before or during the Olympic Games.

It refused to extend invitations to the Paris Games to some Russian and Belarusian athletes who had met the qualification criteria in a vetting process related to their active support of the war in Ukraine or their contractual ties to the Russian military.

Some athletes and human rights groups opposed Van de Velde’s nomination.

“Van de Velde’s presence on the Dutch Olympic team is a complete disrespect and devaluation of the survivors of his crimes,” said Kate Seary, co-founder and director of Kyniska Advocacy, which works to protect and respect women in sport.

“His participation sends a message to everyone that sporting performance is more important than crime.”

Van de Velde is supported by his country’s volleyball association (Nevobo) and the national sports association.

“Before he (Van de Velde) expressed his desire to return to beach volleyball at the time, we spoke extensively with him, but also with the NOC … and others,” said Michel Everaert, Secretary General of Nevobo. “We fully support him and his participation in Paris.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IOC claims it played no role in nominating convicted rapist to Dutch Olympic team