Anticipation is building ahead of the Paris Olympics, but one participant has already been shrouded in controversy.
The uproar is centred around Steven Van Der Velde, a Dutch international volleyball player who is competing in this year’s summer Olympics in Paris. The one, very big problem? Steven is a convicted child rapist, who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of rape involving a 12-year-old British schoolgirl he met on Facebook.
Steven flew from the Netherlands to Milton Keynes to meet the girl in 2014, when he was 19. He was caught after advising the girl to get the morning-after pill at a family planning clinic. Staff contacted the girl’s family because of her young age, and they contacted the police. Steven returned to the Netherlands to complete his sentence and was released after serving just 12 months at a Dutch prison.
Upon his release in 2017, Steven told a Dutch newspaper: ‘I do want to correct all the nonsense that has been written about me when I was locked up. I did not read any of it, on purpose, but I understand that it was quite bad, that I have been branded as a sex monster, as a paedophile. That I am not, really not,’ continuing ‘Everyone can have their opinion about me, but it is only fair if they also know my side of the story.’
Naturally, people are in uproar about the decision to allow a convicted child rapist to compete for his country in the Olympics. Lots of people have taken to social media to share their stance on the decision. One user wrote on X ‘Nobody wants to see Steven Van de Velde at the Paris Olympics. Why was he chosen by the Dutch in the first place? #paris2024.’ Another user wrote ‘Why is Steven van de Velde still being allowed to take part in the Olympics? Why did he only get a 4 year sentence for what he did? Why was he released on licence after serving only a year? Why is child abuse treated so casually?’ A third wrote ‘For clarity: the abuse of a horse has lead to the perpetrator being rightfully banned from the Olympics. The rape of a 12 year old girl has lead to the perpetrator… oh.’
The decision to allow Steven to compete has been defended by Netherlands team boss Pieter van den Hoogenband, who said he is ‘surprised’ at the public reaction. '[Van de Velde] has been active in international sport, the beach volleyball world, for some time. He has played European Championships and World Cups, but then you see that things are different around the Games. That things are exaggerated,’ he said.
‘He’s not going to downplay it. We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to be able to perform.’ He continued that he and others 'don't have blinkers on' and don't have their eyes closed but ultimately Van de Velde 'qualified'. He also says ‘measures’ have been taken to facilitate Van de Velde’s participation at the Games, including a ban on media interviews and housing him away from the athlete’s village.
But why is Steven being given a platform at the Olympics in the first place? When sentencing Steven, the judge at Aylesbury Crown Court told him: ‘Prior to coming to this country you were training as a potential Olympian. Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.’ Clearly, the decision to allow him to compete proves the opposite. Despite the problematic narrative that rape allegations ‘ruin lives’ – a claim that can be traumatic for survivors - Steven’s story shows that, even after a conviction, men can live their life in the same way as before – even when they’re in the public eye.
Then, there’s the impact this will have on other survivors and their families. Those with lived experience of rape will find it immensely triggering to watch Steven compete for his country. It’s generally agreed that convicted offenders should be allowed the chance to rehabilitate after serving time, but putting a rapist on the biggest international sporting stage, where athletes are generally expected to be role models for younger generations, feels like a step too far.
This is best summed up in the words of women's rights groups, who have been speaking out about the decision to allow Steven to compete. Kate Seary, co-founder and director of Kyniska Advocacy said that Steven’s presence on the Dutch Olympic team ‘completely disrespects and invalidates the survivor of his crimes,’ continuing ‘his participation sends a message to everyone that sporting prowess trumps crime.’ Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, executive director of The Army of Survivors, added: ‘An athlete convicted of child sexual abuse, no matter in what country, should not be awarded the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.’
What has Paula Radcliffe said about Steven competing in the Olympics?
Paula Radcliffe is the top breakout search term under Steven’s name on Google, and people are also searching for 'Paula Radcliffe twitter' and 'Paula Radcliffe interview.' But why?
Paula has apologised after wishing Steven ‘best of luck’ ahead of the Olympics, and said he ‘shouldn’t be punished twice.’ Speaking to Andrew Marr’s LBC program about the decision to allow Steven to compete, Paula said ‘I think that it is a very dangerous line to go down given that we allow people who cheat in sport and take drugs in sport to then come back and compete.’
She continued ‘He was 19 at the time and he’s served his jail time and it’s a long time to carry on paying for that mistake for the rest of your life. He may well have turned it around and completely repented. You certainly hope, adding ‘I know that he is married now and has settled down. I think it’s a tough thing to do to punish him twice and if he’s managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and to qualify and to be playing sport at the highest level, then I actually wish him the best of luck.’
She later apologised by responding to a post criticising her on X. She wrote: ‘I agree (that what she said was shocking) and can only apologise, that isn’t what I intended to say. I stress that it isn’t something that can be excused in any way. I was confused in my head and responding to the right to ban him from the Games and I don’t know why I wished him luck. Again I apologise.’