Steven van de Velde raped a child – anyone who whips a horse will be suspended

The Olympics are, let’s face it, the only time when female athletes aren’t patronised. No one complains that the ratings for women’s track cycling must be lower than the men’s, no one lies when they say Jessica Ennis-Hill’s gold at the London 2012 Olympics was the highlight of her home Games. Women stand on equal terms and are praised for their dedication, skill and sheer brilliance. If you were forced to watch just one event this time, it would probably be Simone Biles in women’s artistic gymnastics or LeBron James in men’s basketball.

It is often argued that extremely profitable and popular sports such as tennis, golf, football and basketball should not be Olympic disciplines because winning gold is not the pinnacle in these disciplines. Who is going to point to the fact that Lionel Messi won an Olympic medal with Argentina in 2008 when debating whether he is the greatest sports star of all time? But for now, at least, the achievements feel worthwhile. The real reason these events have no place at the Games is because they take away the glamour of men’s sport that we enjoy year after year. Can’t we protect the way the Olympics offer us sporting equality? For the first time in Olympic history, there are as many female athletes as male. Let’s not spoil that.

• Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, first day

Van de Velde is not allowed into the Olympic Village following requests from British Olympic chiefs

PABLO MORANO/GETTY

But wait, there is something that has already spoiled the Paris Games. Numerical equality between the sexes is being undermined by the strange case of Charlotte Dujardin versus Steven van de Velde.

Dujardin is the rider who was on the verge of making history but was then banned from the Paris Games for whipping a horse four years ago. For reasons that might seem suspicious to you, footage of the incident only surfaced on the eve of the Games, and Dujardin was as remorseful as one can be after making what she called “an error of judgement.”

Van de Velde is the Dutch beach volleyball player who raped a 12-year-old English girl and was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016. Aged 19, he flew to Luton Airport and then travelled on to Milton Keynes to meet the girl he had been in contact with online, despite knowing her real age. He was released after serving 12 months in a Dutch prison. This did not seriously interrupt his sporting career and he is now his country’s representative in France at 29 years old.

“I can’t undo it, so I’ll have to face the consequences,” he said. But the consequences obviously won’t go so far that he can no longer compete on the international stage.

The Dutch Chef de Mission has said he was surprised that anyone had any concerns about Van de Velde’s inclusion, and there are many people who are happy that a sportsman can serve a sentence and then continue his career, but no one has rushed to defend Dujardin. We may get sentimental about horses, but we are less emotional when we think about the welfare of a 12-year-old rape victim. Indeed, in the various statements from the Netherlands supporting Van de Velde’s selection, there is little room to reflect on what his participation means for the victim and her family.

• Warning to whistleblower Charlotte Dujardin: “They will come after you”

Dujardin was close to becoming the most successful British Olympian

BRADLEY COLLYER/PA

One concession from the IOC is that the convicted rapist will not be allowed to stay in the Olympic Village, at the request of British Olympic chiefs. But why did the Dutch Olympic Committee think it was acceptable for Van de Velde to live there in the first place? There are a lot of teenagers in Paris, so the village will be teeming with children. Several skateboarders are under 14. There is a duty of care when exposing young people to the Olympic spotlight and the pressures that come with it, but really the issue should not be about protecting them from a convicted rapist.

Dujardin, a six-time Olympic medallist, was on the verge of becoming Britain’s most successful Olympian of all time before she was banned. Perhaps the same people who supported Van de Velde’s participation couldn’t imagine Dujardin being allowed anywhere near an animal. Just in case, you know, once a horsebeater, always a horsebeater.

“It is our responsibility and crucial that we address all cases of abuse because the welfare of horses must not be compromised,” said Ingmar De Vos, President of the International Equestrian Federation.

Dujardin admits she is the trainer in the video, but the footage does not paint a clear and unambiguous picture of abuse. How far she overstepped the boundaries will no doubt be investigated, but I believe that if Dujardin could compete, every horse in Paris would be as safe as any young girl.

Women are caregivers and educators, so serious misconduct is worse than for men. Even at the level of overzealous horse training, the resentment was enormous. Dujardin’s sponsors dropped her; Carl Hester, her mentor, condemned her. Those who care about equestrianism are terrified that their sport will no longer be included in future Olympic Games.

We have no idea if Dujardin’s horses are afraid of her or traumatized in some way, but what about Van de Velde’s victim? How would you feel if your rapist, or the man who raped your child or your sister, was on television having fun representing his country in a sandbox?

• Olympic Guide: Daily schedule and start times of the Paris Games