Australian Olympic Chief Makes Strong Statement
Australia’s Olympic chief, Anna Meares, has made it clear that a convicted rapist wouldn’t be selected for their team. This comes after Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player, sparked outrage over his inclusion in the Netherlands’ squad for the Paris Olympics.
Van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl in the UK when he was 19. He met the victim online and travelled from the Netherlands to assault her. After serving only one year, he resumed his volleyball career.
Meares, unwilling to directly comment on another country’s selection, emphasised Australia’s strict policies. “Someone with that kind of conviction wouldn’t be allowed on our team,” she stated.
Separate Accommodation for Van de Velde
Facing mounting criticism, the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) has decided to change Van de Velde’s living arrangements during the Olympics. He won’t be staying with other athletes but will have separate accommodation in Paris. This move aims to create a calmer environment, and Van de Velde will also be restricted from speaking with journalists.
The decision follows support shown for Van de Velde by NOC*NSF and the Dutch volleyball association last month. They argued he’d undergone counselling and expressed remorse. However, renewed international attention, including from Australia, forced the sports body to take further action.
Confession and Punishment
Van de Velde admitted to sexually assaulting the girl on multiple occasions in 2014. He knew her age and even gave her alcohol. He was extradited to the UK and served a year in prison.
NOC*NSF claims experts believe Van de Velde poses no risk of re-offending. They also state he has been “open about the case” and regrets his actions. However, his inclusion in the Olympics has reignited media scrutiny.
The Dutch committee defends its decision, citing guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation for athletes returning to competition after convictions. The International Olympic Committee maintains that selecting athletes is up to individual committees.
Safety Groups Speak Out
Women’s safety groups have slammed Van de Velde’s participation in the Games. With his separate accommodation, it seems the controversy surrounding him is far from over.
The Dutch volleyball federation (Nevobo) said Van de Velde, 29, was “proving to be an exemplary professional and human being and there has been no reason to doubt him since his return”.
Support for Velde
Meanwhile, the Netherland Olympic committee said Van de Velde had met all the qualification requirements for the Olympic games “and is therefore part of the team”.
Velde himself, in the statement released by Nevobo, said: “I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract the attention of international media. I cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”
[The more liberal view is that, the player was barely 19 at the time, and that he has served his sentence and atoned for his mistake, and should be allowed to get on with his life. It was consensual sex, but statutory rape, because of the age factor. It’s punishment enough that he’s been labelled ‘rapist’, and has to carry that label for the rest of his life.]
What do you think? Let us know in a comment -editor
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Before passing our judgement, we must evaluate our lens from which we are seeing the situation. Also, getting carried away with the outrageous ‘label’ ( in this case, rapist) without taking stock of the ‘context’ leads to ‘popular opinion’ rather than ‘fair opinion’. Netherland’s legal system investigated the matter from their ‘lens’ (cultural, historical) and passed the judgement accordingly. Later, they deemed him fit to go further in his career and life which was acceptable from Netherland’s legal lens. But the same situation might be treated very differently in different countries and culture. So, simply targeting an individual belonging to a different country and culture from one’ s personal lens without considering other party’s lens and context is unfair.
Zainab, strange sentence “Freedom of expression left the chat, and acceptance of immorality entered the chat.”
Wierd.
Freedom of expression is the right to accept or reject opinions and to debate, so why this sentence?
BTW, the Hijab thing is another issue. Request Newsnet team to examine why suddenly Hijab has become so political whether it is France, UK, or India.
Fact check, please.
The Hijab is not banned at the Olympics. French athletes are not to wear Hijabs, Niqab, Turbans. It is their internal matter. Not at all relevant to the discussion.
The French Olympic Committee didn’t have anything to do with the Van de Veld affair. The Netherlands Olympic committee certified de Veld as eligible.
The whole debate here is on the issue: when a person has served his sentence and accepted his mistake, is it ethical to continue to target him or her? The other question is whether it really amounted to ‘rape’?
If the French Athletes have such a problem with the Hijab rules, they have ways of protest in their own country. They also have the option of representing another country of their choice.
It isn’t clear what the hijab is doing in this conversation?
People justifying his actions are just wild to me. In the French Olympic Games, hijab is banned, but a convicted rapist is allowed to compete. So you’re saying that hijab is more offensive than rape? The hypocrisy!
Freedom of expression left the chat, and acceptance of immorality entered the chat.
Whoa! Hold on!
What’s up?
I think we were discussing the pros and cons of sexuality, puberty, different standards by different countries, and all that stuff. Whether a talented athlete should be allowed or not? How much punishment is punishment?
Why are you inserting ‘Hijab’ and why are you comparing it with ‘rape’?
Some are in favour of the fellow competing, and some are not. Expressed their views freely, I believe.
The game is over, the team lost. Now they’re back in Holland. Now why are we putting a Hijab on this discussion?
At the age of 19 one’s sensible enough to acknowledge what’s right and wrong. The helpless feeling about not playing in Olympic after giving a lifetime trauma to someone would be the best punishment for Van. Remember, a crime like rape shouldn’t be easily forgotten by the world.
Khushi Kumari, CEMS, Sem V, PWC
It is laughable and also distressing to see people put in random comments without even researching the case properly.
Steven Van De Velde is a victim of ‘woke laws’.
In the UK, sex with anyone under 16 is ‘statutory Rape’ In India, the age is under 18 and comes under ‘Posco’. It doesn’t matter whether it is consensual or not.
In Netherlands, consensual sex with anyone in the 15-17 age group is not regarded as ‘rape’.
The case is more complicated than that. The girl claimed she was 16. 16 is the age of sexual consent in many countries. She had consensual sex with the boy more than three times over a period of four days. They dated, went out etc. The guy asked the girl to go to a clinic and get a check up, because she complained of pain. Under UK law, the doctors by law have to report any anomalies or indications to the social services. It was here that it was revealed that the girl was actually 13 years. then the law followed its course. The guy went to UK and served his sentence for a year. When he was transferred to Netherlands, he was tried under their law, and served one months’ sentence there too.
That was 2015. Today is 2024. By the way do you know he is married to a famous German volleyball player named Kim who studied psychology and trained to become a police officer? They have one child. His brother-in-law is footballer Kevin Behrens, who plays for VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national football team?
I am sick and tired of women always acting like victims. Look at it from the other way. Young girl attracted to handsome teen volleyball player. Wants to look older than she is. has a nice ‘internet relationship’. Guy flies to England to date her… and then? what?
By the way, I am a journalism student in Don Bosco University, Guwahati. Yes, I am a woman. A progressive one, I hope, who won’t take crap from men and women as well.
Since it was consensual, Van de Velde has served his punishment and the label of a “Rapist” is more than enough for him to regret his decisions for his lifetime. Although there can be many safety concerns, which is not wrong ; he shouldn’t be restricted from playing in the team and representing the country.
Van de Velde’s Olympic selection implies that skill and potential for success might outweigh moral failings, which devalues survivors of sexual assault, particularly those who are young. Rather than addressing the core of his violation, separate accommodations appear to be an attempt to calm public outrage. ZAINAB IRSHAD DEPARTMENT- CEMS (PWC) 3rd Semester
If it isn’t against his country’s Olympic rules, why should we get our knickers in a knot?
Of the Dutch people are okay with it, why are the Aussies acting prissy?
If the chap can play as per existing international rules, let him. Otherwise change the rules.
In India what about the fate of the female wrestlers who protested?
Easy to point fingers at foreigners.
What all ghotalas are there in our own backyard?
Van de Velde has served his prison term. He had repeatedly asked forgiveness for his foolish crime of passion. He was still a teenager. He has been punished.
The screeching fake attention grabbing female Nazis of the so called woke brigade can yell their heads off.
The reality is: he’s a damn good player and he’s representing his country.
Let the dead past bury its past.
Give the guy a break!
I am a guy. I’m not yet 19. In my culture girls are like from another planet. Guys can only look on from far. Most probably I’m not having sex before marriage. ha ha!
If there was a situation where physical relationships were more common, and I knew some girl who was 16 or 15 who was okay with it. [Hypothetical) At the moment , would I be bothered about this or that legality? [Honestly?]Very difficult to say.
So with Van de Veld, I salute the Netherlands Olympic Team for giving him a second chance.