The Netherlands comes under fire selecting convicted rapist Steven van de Velde in the beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics.
www.abc.net.au
Steven van de Velde is a Dutch beach volleyball player who, in August 2014 at the age of 19, raped a 12-year-old girl in Milton Keynes, England. He met her on Facebook and traveled from Amsterdam to her home, where he gave her alcohol and raped her multiple times, both at her home and near Furzton Lake .
Van de Velde was arrested in January 2016 after being extradited to the UK. In March 2016, he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and was sentenced to four years in prison by Aylesbury Crown Court. He was also placed on the UK’s Violent and Sex Offender Register for life . However, he was released after serving only one year of his sentence and returned to the Netherlands .
Despite his criminal record, van de Velde resumed his volleyball career. The Dutch Volleyball Association allowed him to continue competing, and he has participated in international tournaments since 2018. He has qualified to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics .
Van de Velde’s early release and return to competitive sports have been met with significant criticism. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) condemned his lack of remorse and his statements minimizing the severity of his crimes .
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