Ella Scott
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde has been denied entry to Australia ahead of the Beach Volleyball World Championships next month.
The 31-year-old Dutchman, who pleaded guilty in 2016 to three counts of raping a 12-year-old girl in Milton Keynes, participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, with the Dutch Olympic Committee standing by their nomination decision despite major outcry.
In the same year, he won a bronze medal at the European Championships.
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He hoped to represent the Netherlands at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, beginning on 14 November.
However, his travel to the Aussie-based sports competition has been blocked, resulting in his subsequent ban from the country.
South Australia's Attorney-General Kyam Maher wrote to the federal government two weeks ago, urging officials to deny his visa.
In the letter, the South Australian Labor Party member said: "We do not believe that foreign child sex offenders should be granted entry to this country."
Tony Burke, Australia's Home Affairs Minister, said: "The government will continue to use every tool we have available to ensure that Australians can be safe and feel safe in their communities."
Dutch volleyball association technical director Heleen Crielaard has said that the team ‘regret’ that Van de Velde’s visa had been denied.
"We have no choice but to accept the decision," she added, per The Guardian.
Upon learning that the athlete - who served just 13 months of his original four-year sentence and resumed his volleyball career in 2018 - wouldn’t be participating in the tournament, Volleyball Australia chief executive Andrew Dee had his say.
"As local organising committee, our focus remains on ensuring we deliver a spectacular world championships," he stated.
"It will be the biggest beach volleyball event in the world this year and the first time we will have nine Aussie teams proudly wearing the green and gold. That is what we all should now focus on and celebrate."
Van de Velde was 19 and living in his native country when he met with his victim in the UK after chatting over social media.
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During his sentencing remarks, the presiding judge said: "Your hopes of representing your country [as an Olympic athlete] now lie as a shattered dream."
"He has lost a stellar sports career being branded a rapist. Plainly, it is a career end for him," they added.
Van de Velde was transferred to the Netherlands to serve his sentence and was released in 2017.
He made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 alongside volleyball partner Matthew Immers.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.