IOC: Convicted Dutch rapist will participate in the Games as planned

Steven van de Velde.
Photo: AFP

The International Olympic Committee has stated that it is satisfied with the statements made by the Dutch Olympic team regarding the participation of a convicted rapist in the Paris Games and that he will compete as planned.

Steven van de Velde, who was called up to the Dutch team for Paris last month, was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 after raping a 12-year-old girl two years earlier, when he was 19.

After serving part of his sentence there, he was transferred to the Netherlands and his sentence was subject to Dutch law.

Van de Velde has been playing beach volleyball again since 2017 and will be playing in the men’s preliminary round in Paris on Sunday.

“To describe it as pleasant and fortunate would not be accurate,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said at a press conference when asked whether the IOC was happy with Van de Velde taking part in the Olympic Games.

“We have made it clear that we have had long discussions with the Dutch National Olympic Committee. A crime occurred ten years ago, there has been extensive rehabilitation and there are strict security measures in place,” he said.

“The athlete is not even staying in the village. We believe the NOC has explained its decision. You can call it what you want and it is pleasant and happy, but the explanation they gave us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is.”

The Dutch team has taken steps to mitigate the impact of Van de Velde’s participation by moving him to alternative accommodation in Paris rather than the athletes’ village, and he has been banned from speaking to the media.

His nomination has angered women’s rights and sports rights groups, who felt the Dutch decision to include Van de Velde in the team sent the wrong message.

While the selection of athletes for the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the individual national Olympic committees, the IOC has the right to revoke the accreditation of athletes, coaches or officials.

The Olympic Games are an invitational event to which the IOC sends invitations to all participants.

– Reuters