Australian Olympic Team Chief, Anna Meares, has made it clear that a convicted rapist will not be representing Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This statement comes after Steven van de Velde, a convicted rapist from the Netherlands, was named in the Dutch beach volleyball squad for the upcoming Games.
Van de Velde, who is now 29 years old, was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19. Despite serving only 12 months of his four-year sentence, he resumed his volleyball career and was selected for the Dutch Olympic team in June.
Meares emphasized that Australia has strict policies when it comes to safeguarding within the team, and individuals with such serious convictions would not be allowed to be part of the Australian Olympic team. While she did not specifically comment on the Dutch team’s selection process, she made it clear that athletes or staff members with a similar criminal record would not be considered for the Australian team.
The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) defended their decision to select Van de Velde by stating that he had sought professional counseling after his release and had shown self-insight and reflection. They also mentioned that his return to the sport met the guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation.
It is important to note that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that the selection of athletes for the Games is the responsibility of individual committees. Despite the controversy surrounding Van de Velde’s inclusion in the Games, the Dutch Olympic Committee has decided that he will not be staying in the athletes’ village and has been provided with alternative accommodation in Paris.
However, Van de Velde’s participation in the Olympics has sparked criticism from women’s safety groups, who argue that individuals with such serious criminal convictions should not be given the opportunity to represent their country on a global stage. This incident raises important questions about the accountability of sports organizations and the prioritization of ethical considerations in athlete selection processes.