Paris: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Saturday that it is satisfied with the Netherlands Olympic team’s explanations regarding the participation of convicted rapist Steven van de Velde in the Paris Games, and confirmed that he will compete as planned.
Van de Velde, who was included in the Dutch team for Paris last month, was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 for the rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2014, when he was 19. After serving part of his sentence in Britain, he was transferred to the Netherlands, where his sentence was adapted to Dutch legal standards.
Since 2017, Van de Velde has resumed competing in beach volleyball and is set to participate in the men’s preliminary phase in Paris on Sunday.
“To characterise it as comfortable and happy would not be correct,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said at a press conference when asked about the IOC’s stance on Van de Velde’s participation. “We have made it clear we have been in long conversations with the Dutch National Olympic Committee. A crime occurred 10 years ago, a great deal of rehabilitation has taken place and strong safeguarding is in place.”
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Adams added, “The athlete is not even staying in the village. We feel the NOC have explained their decision. Comfortable and happy, characterise it how you want, but the statement that they have given to us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is.”
To address concerns, the Dutch team has arranged for Van de Velde to stay in alternative accommodation in Paris, separate from the athletes’ village, and has imposed a media ban on him.
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His inclusion has faced criticism from women’s and sports rights groups, who argue that the Dutch decision sends a troubling message. While each national Olympic committee selects its athletes, the IOC retains the authority to rescind accreditations if necessary.
The Olympics are an invitational event, with the IOC issuing invitations to all participants.
