The Dutch Volleyball Federation and Dutch Olympic organizers stand by their resolution to ship a person convicted of rape to symbolize the Netherlands in seaside volleyball at this summer season’s Paris Olympics.
In 2014, Steven van de Velde, now 29, traveled to the UK and raped a 12-year-old lady he had met on Fb. A British courtroom sentenced him to 4 years in jail in 2016. A yr later, he was transferred to the Netherlands and his sentence was adjusted below Dutch regulation. In whole, Vandevelde spent greater than a yr in jail.
The volleyball affiliation mentioned he subsequently obtained skilled counseling.
The Dutch Olympic Committee and the Dutch Volleyball Affiliation allowed Van de Velde to play based mostly on the recommendation of specialists who thought-about the chance of a repeat foul to be very low, in response to their web sites. Mr. van de Velde resumed his seaside volleyball profession in 2017.
Though the worldwide information media was outraged by protection of his Olympic participation, the story didn’t entice a lot consideration within the Netherlands. Dutch information media primarily reported on worldwide media and the way they reported the case.
“Particularly overseas, there are causes to rekindle the 29-year-old seaside volleyball participant’s previous,” the volleyball affiliation wrote in a press release on its web site.
Sarah Alavi, founder and director of Protected House Membership, a nonprofit group that works with victims of sexual abuse, mentioned she was stunned by the shortage of consideration the story obtained in comparison with different, much less essential sports activities information. (For instance, Dutch information media reported on soccer participant Memphis Depay wearing a headband in a latest recreation.
Mr van de Velde admitted the crime and advised Dutch information media it was the worst mistake of his life.
“It was an enormous mistake, nobody can deny that. There was nothing I might do about it,” Mr van de Velde mentioned in a 2018 interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. “I am unable to reverse it, so I’ve to reside with the results.”
Ms Allawi mentioned she was dissatisfied by Mr van de Velde’s lack of regret and introspection. She mentioned it sends the message: “When you’re a white Adonis, you do not have as a lot accountability.”
“In case you are really sorry and it was the largest mistake of your life, then you must present why you deserve a second probability,” Ms. Allawi mentioned. A technique, she mentioned, is to accomplice with organizations that fight sexual abuse.
“I don’t perceive that that is how we cope with this situation within the post-MeToo Netherlands,” she mentioned. “We’re speaking about little one abuse right here.”
Olympic organizers are conscious of Mr van de Velde’s historical past and mentioned in a press release that they’d spent a number of time speaking to him.
“When Van de Velde appears within the mirror now, he sees a mature and comfortable man, married and the daddy of a lovely son,” the Dutch Volleyball Affiliation (Nevobo in Dutch) wrote on its web site .
Volleyball basic supervisor Michel Everaert mentioned in a press release: “He has confirmed to be an exemplary skilled and human being and there was no motive to doubt him since his return. “
Mr van de Velde shouldn’t be the primary Olympian to be discovered responsible. Most notoriously, Tonya Harding certified for the U.S. determine skating group for the 1994 Winter Olympics and was suspected of being concerned in an assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan. Ms. Harding was allowed to compete however was awkwardly positioned on the identical group as Ms. Kerrigan and completed eighth. She later pleaded responsible to hindering prosecution and was fined and sentenced to probation and group service.
Bruce Kimball, the 1984 diving silver medalist, hopes to return to the U.S. Olympic group in 1988. . Moms Towards Drunk Driving and the sufferer’s buddies opposed his participation within the trial, however he was allowed to compete. He completed fourth and sixth in each occasions however didn’t make the group and ended up in jail for 4 years.
Victor Mather Contribution report
