A Dutch beach volleyball player who served a prison sentence for raping a child 10 years ago will represent the Netherlands at this year’s event Olympics.
Steven van de Veldewho is now 29 years old, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2014 for raping the 12-year-old girl, according to British media. He was released in 2017.
He has now been selected to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
“We know Steven’s story,” said Michel Everaert, general director of Nevobo – the Dutch Volleyball Federation – in a statement. declaration.
Everaert said the federation spoke extensively with the Dutch National Olympic Committee (NOC), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and van de Velde ahead of his return to the sport.
“He was convicted at the time under English law and served his sentence. Since then, we have been in constant contact with Steven, who is now fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community,” Everaert added in the statement.
Van de Velde served part of his sentence in England before being transferred to the Netherlands, where he was released and returned to playing in 2017, according to Nevobo.
In 2018, van de Velde counted national broadcaster NOS: “I did what I did. I can’t go back, so I’ll have to face the consequences. You can judge, of course. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.”
“He is proving to be an exemplary professional and human being and there is no reason to doubt him since his return,” Everaert added.
The federation noted that van de Velde was aware that this “dark period in his life” would resurface “but is obviously not happy about it”.
In the statement released by Nevobo, van de Velde said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this could attract international media attention,” added van de Velde.
“Because of the second chance I had from my parents, my friends, acquaintances and colleagues, who accepted me again after the biggest mistake of my then young life,” he said.
“I would also like to thank the Dutch volleyball federation, because they offered me, with clear conditions and agreements, a future again in this beautiful sport. But I also think about the teenager I was, insecure, not prepared for a life as a high-level athlete and unhappy inside, because I didn’t know who I was and what I wanted.”
Nevobo and the Dutch NOC said in a statement that they supported van de Velde, adding that, together with the FIVB, they had consulted experts who considered his likelihood of re-offending “nil”.
“Following his conviction and sentence, Steven van de Velde returned to the highest level of the sport, step by step, under the expert guidance of probation and training, among others. He has been participating in international tournaments again since 2017,” Nevobo said in a statement.
The Dutch NOC added that van de Velde returned to professional sport based on its guidelines, “which establish, among other things, the conditions under which high-level sport athletes can return after a conviction”.
“Van de Velde now meets all qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team,” the committee added.
The International Olympic Committee told CNN that “the appointment of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee. We will therefore forward to the Dutch NOC for any further information.”
Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of the US Center for SafeSport, said in a statement sent to CNN that the organization was “deeply concerned that anyone convicted of sexual assault of a minor would be able to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games.”
“With teams from around the world about to gather in Paris, many of which include underage athletes, this sends a dangerous message that medals and money mean more than your safety. Participation in sport is a privilege and not a right,” she added.
CNN’s Mick Krever contributed reporting.
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