Convicted rapist Van de Velde will compete in the Olympic Games on Sunday

Convicted rapist Steven van de Velde will make his Olympic debut on Sunday morning amid much controversy.

The decision of the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) to include the 29-year-old in the beach volleyball squad has sparked criticism.

He will compete with his playing partner Matthew Immers and their first match is scheduled for July 28 at 09:00 (CEST) against the Italians Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.

Kate Seary, co-founder and director of Kyniska Advocacy, an organization that works to protect and respect women in sport, said: “His participation sends a message to everyone that athletic performance is more important than crime.”

However, Dutch Chief of Mission Pieter van den Hoogenband said: “He will not downplay his conviction. We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to deliver his performance.”

How did we get here?

Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after admitting three counts of raping a 12-year-old British girl in August 2014.

The Dutchman, who met his victim on Facebook, travelled from Amsterdam to the UK and raped the girl at an address in Milton Keynes.

He resumed his volleyball career after serving just 12 months of his four-year sentence and was called up to the Dutch Olympic team for Paris in June.

In previous interviews with Dutch media, Van de Velde said: “I can’t undo it, so I will have to face the consequences. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

What does the Dutch Olympic team think about this?

The NOC said Van de Velde had returned to the field “after a special treatment program.”

It continues: “Van de Velde has fully complied with all requirements and adhered to all strict risk assessment thresholds, controls and due diligence obligations. Experts have stated that there is no risk of reoffending.”

“Van de Velde has always acted transparently in this case, which he describes as the biggest misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved.”

In a statement to BBC Sport, it was also said: “After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional counselling. He demonstrated self-awareness and self-reflection to those around him – both privately and professionally.”

Van den Hoogenband added: “He has competed in World Championships, European Championships and World Cups, but you can see that things are different around the Games. Everything gets even more intense around the Games.”

“We have made good steps together. All athletes are important to me and I try to support them.”

How is the selection of Van de Velde permissible?

The NOC stated that Van de Velde’s return to sport complied with the guidelines set out in the Dutch Volleyball Association’s (NeVoBo) ‘Guidelines Integrity Record’, which sets out the conditions for athletes to return to competition after a conviction.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the selection of athletes for the Games was the responsibility of individual committees – a position that spokesman Mark Adams reiterated at a press conference in Paris.

“They made a statement and made it very clear that there are a lot of security measures, special, additional security measures,” Adams said.

Van den Hoogenband said Van de Velde had been moved from the athletes’ village to alternative accommodation and would not speak to the media during his stay in Paris.

What were the reactions?

Australian Olympic team chief Anna Meares said her country would not field a convicted rapist.

“If an athlete or employee had this conviction, they would not be allowed to become a member of our team,” Meares said.

“We have strict policies in place to protect our team.”

Leading safe sport organizations – the Sport & Rights Alliance Athletes Network for Safer Sports, The Army of Survivors and Kyniska Advocacy – have called on the IOC to disqualify Van de Velde from Paris 2024.

“Van de Velde’s presence on the Dutch Olympic team is a complete disrespect to the survivor of his crimes and devalues ​​him,” said Seary of Kyniska Advocacy.

Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, executive director of The Army of Survivors, added: “An athlete convicted of child sexual abuse, no matter what country, should not be given the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.”

Joanna Maranhao, network coordinator of the Athletes Network for Safer Sports, said Van de Velde’s “participation is already causing further harm to people with first-hand experience.”

She added: “Athletes who compete at the prestigious level of the Olympic Games are often perceived as heroes and role models – Van de Velde should not receive that honour.”