Van De Velde allowed to take part in the Olympics despite being convicted of rape

July 27 (THEWILL) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, will be allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Van de Velde, who was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 for the rape of a 12-year-old girl, has been competing again since 2017 after serving part of his sentence.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said they were satisfied with the explanations given by the Dutch National Olympic Committee regarding Van de Velde’s participation. The Dutch team has taken measures to mitigate the impact of his participation, including keeping him separate from other athletes and banning media interactions.

The decision has sparked controversy. Women’s rights and sports rights groups criticise the move as sending the wrong message. However, the IOC emphasises that comprehensive rehabilitation has taken place since the crime ten years ago and that strict protection measures have been put in place.

Van de Velde will compete in the men’s beach volleyball preliminary round on Sunday. While the selection of athletes for the Olympic Games is primarily the responsibility of national Olympic committees, the IOC reserves the right to revoke accreditations if necessary.

The case sheds light on the complexity of athletes’ participation in major sporting events and the balance between rehabilitation and public concerns.

Jude Obafemi is a versatile Senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers and excels in sourcing, researching and delivering sports news for print and digital publications.