Convicted rapist to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was found guilty in a rape case, will represent the Netherlands

Amsterdam, 27 June: Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl, has qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris despite controversial circumstances. Despite serving only 12 months of a four-year prison sentence for three counts of rape, Van de Velde has resumed his sporting career.

Velde was 19 when he travelled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes in August 2014 to have sex with a girl he knew was only 12. Judge Francis Sheridan noted that Van de Velde’s hopes of representing the Netherlands at the Olympics were dashed by his criminal actions.

Van de Velde was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court after being extradited from the Netherlands. His defence lawyer Linda Strudwick said of the verdict: “The headlines say it all: ‘A sex monster.’ This is clearly the end of his career.”

Nevertheless, Van de Velde was selected to compete in the national beach volleyball doubles event alongside Matthew Immers in Paris next month, sparking widespread criticism and debate.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2024 12:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com.)