Convicted child molester qualifies for Olympics

A Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted in England of raping an underage girl has qualified for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

Steven van de Velde, 29, and his partner Matthew Immers secured their place in the upcoming Games, topping the Dutch rankings for the country’s two men’s beach volleyball spots.

“I understand that this can attract international media attention ahead of the biggest sporting event in the world,” Van de Velde said in a statement posted on the Dutch Volleyball Association’s website. “I cannot undo it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Van de Velde was convicted in 2014 of raping a 12-year-old girl in Milton Keynes, a city outside London. He was released in 2017 after spending a year in prison in the Netherlands.

According to court testimony, aged 19, he flew from Amsterdam to the UK to meet his victim, a girl he knew to be just 12. The court heard he went to the victim’s home, with whom he had communicated on social media, before arranging a visit while her mother was out of town, and that he deflowered her before flying back home.

Van de Velde was later arrested and extradited to the UK, where he was tried and sentenced to four years in prison. He was transferred to the Netherlands and re-tried under Dutch law.

“Meets all qualification requirements”

Van de Velde has been a polarizing figure in the sporting community since his return to professional volleyball, with the Dutch Volleyball Association (Nevobo) supporting his participation in this summer’s Games.

“We know Steven’s background. Before he expressed his desire to return to beach volleyball, we spoke extensively with him, as well as with (the Dutch sports federation) and the international volleyball federation FIVB,” said Michel Everaert, general director of Nevobo.

Despite the strong reactions, the Dutch Olympic Committee stuck to its decision to nominate Van de Velde for the national team. The decision rests with the national volleyball association, which has decided not to impose any further sanctions against him, the organization stressed.

“Van de Velde now meets all qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team,” the committee said.

Since his release, van de Velde has been actively competing. He has participated in several notable tournaments, including events on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. In 2023, van de Velde and his partner Immers secured a major win at the Chiang Mai Challenge in Thailand, securing a place in the top 20 of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ranking.

This decision was met with criticism from various groups and individuals, including child protection organisations. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) condemned the volleyball association’s decision, stressing that Van de Velde showed no remorse and that the decision potentially sent a signal of accountability and rehabilitation.

Newsweek has asked the Dutch Volleyball Association and the International Volleyball Federation for a statement.