Volleyball player convicted of child rape faces Olympic isolation

He served part of his sentence in the UK and was then transferred to the Netherlands, where he was eventually released and started playing volleyball again in 2017.

In order to “create calm”, the Dutch Olympic Committee decided on Sunday that Van de Velde would also be banned from entering the Olympic Athletes’ Village, reported the Dutch press agency ANP.

According to the Dutch Volleyball Association, he admitted to having made “the biggest mistake of his young life.”

“I can’t go back, so I’ll have to face the consequences.”

The Dutch Olympic Committee and the country’s volleyball association said they had consulted experts who concluded there was “no chance” of Van de Velde reoffending.

Former swimming star and head of the Dutch delegation at the Paris Games, Pieter van den Hoogenband, said he was “surprised by the fuss surrounding” the athlete.

“He has been active in international sport and in the world of beach volleyball for a long time,” Van den Hoogenband told broadcaster NOS.

“He has taken part in World Championships, European Championships and World Cups, but you can see that things are different around the Games. Everything becomes even more intense around the Games.”

“We have made good steps together. All athletes are close to my heart and I try to support them,” said the former swimmer, who is convinced that Van de Velde “is holding strong despite the turbulence.”

bnl/hpa/dj/nf