How does a convicted child rapist end up competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee is being asked this very question, and folks are demanding an answer.
Steven van de Velde, a beach volleyball player representing the Netherlands, was convicted of raping a British 12-year-old girl in 2016.
Many are calling this type of inclusion irresponsible and sending the wrong message to abusers and victims of sexual abuse, reported The Guardian.
Here is more of what The Guardian had to say on the matter:
Ciara Bergman, the CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales said the “irresponsible” inclusion of Van de Velde at the Olympics created an “enormous sense of impunity”, adding: “If you can rape a child and still compete in the Olympics, despite all athletes signing a declaration promising to be a role model, that is just shocking,” she said.
The inclusion of Van de Velde in the Dutch team would have a “serious impact”, she added: “There is always an impact on the individual victim survivor, but every act of violence against women and girls is a crime against society. It has a collateral and collective impact on all other women and girls.”
Bergman called on the International Olympic Committee to carry out an investigation into how Van de Velde had been allowed to compete. “How did we get here? How did we get to a place where raping a child is seen as less important than the medal someone might win at the Olympics? It’s just extraordinary,” she said. “I think there has to be some kind of investigation into this and how it was allowed to happen. It has to be a moment for real thinking and real change.”
The backlash has cast a shadow over one of the Olympics’ marquee events, which starts on Saturday in an outdoor stadium at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. On Wednesday Paula Radcliffe apologised after being asked on the Tonight With Andrew Marr show about outright bans at the Olympics. She originally said it was a “tough thing to do to punish [Van de Velde] twice” adding that she wished “him the best of luck”.
Andrea Simon, executive director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said Van de Velde’s inclusion in the Games sent a “worrying message” to men who commit rape “that there will unlikely be any consequences, and therefore no deterrent”.
