Why convicted child rapist was allowed to compete in Olympics and why he can't enter Australia
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and child abuse, which some readers may find distressing.
News broke yesterday (29 Oct) that a former Olympian - who previously served time in prison for child rape - had been denied entry to Australia.
Steven van de Velde had hoped to represent the Netherlands at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, on 14 November; however, he was denied entry to the country due to his prior convictions.
For those unfamiliar with the sporting scandal, beach volleyball player van de Velde hit international headlines last summer after it emerged that the 31-year-old had previously been convicted of three counts of rape.
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The Dutchman's crimes were committed in Milton Keynes (the UK) in 2014 when he was 19, and involved a 12-year-old British girl whom he'd met on social media, with the athlete being fully aware of her age, the court heard before his sentencing.
In 2016, he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and was sentenced to four years in jail, of which he served 12 months.
Van de Velde's admission to the 2024 Olympics
During his sentencing, Judge Francis Sheridan told Van de Velde: "Your hopes of representing your country [as an Olympic athlete] now lie as a shattered dream."
Sheridan further added that Van de Velde 'lost a stellar sports career being branded a rapist'. After serving part of his sentence, he returned to professional competition in 2018.
His first appearance at the 2024 Olympic Games was made a decade on from his rape conviction, something Rape Crisis England and Wales CEO, Ciara Bergman, who called on the International Olympic Committee to carry out an investigation last summer, slammed as 'irresponsible'.
"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.
"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."
Andrea Simon, the executive director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, also agreed, believing his inclusion would send a 'worrying message' to men who commit rape, 'that there will unlikely be any consequences, and therefore no deterrent'.
The Dutch Olympic Committee's stance
In the face of calls to remove Van de Velde from the Games before the Games commence, however, the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) stood firmly by their decision, telling the BBC that the 'professional counselling' he 'sought and received' following the rape conviction should count for something.
"He demonstrated to those around him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection," the organisation told BBC Sport in a statement.
Representatives also argued at the time that Van de Velde's return to international competition met the guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo) in its 'Guidelines Integrity Record'.
Van de Velde's team captain, Pieter van den Hoogenband, also told Dutch outlet NOS: "Steven has been active in international sports and the beach volleyball world for a long time.
"He has played in World Cups, European Championships and World Championships, but then you see that things are different around the Games. That things are exaggerated around the Games."
The International Olympic Committee's statement
Despite Mark Adams, a spokesperson for the Games' ruling body, describing the Netherlands' decision to allow Van de Velde to compete as 'not comfortable and happy', he insisted there was nothing the IOC could do to intervene.
"The nomination of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee," another representative told press at the time.
During the tournament, Van de Velde - who was disallowed from both residing with other athletes at Olympic Village, and conversing with the press - the convicted rapist was ceaselessly booed by attendees.
After beating Chile, the Netherlands were subsequently thrashed by Brazil, seeing Van de Velde eliminated from further rounds, leaving him 'crying'.
Despite his team going on to win a bronze medal at the European Beach Volleyball Championships in the Netherlands just weeks later, he was turned away from Australia this week.
Steven van de Velde's ban from Australia
Citing his criminal history in a letter written to the federal government earlier this month, Kyam Maher, South Australia's Attorney-General, urged officials to deny his visa, insisting: "We do not believe that foreign child sex offenders should be granted entry to this country."
In response, Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, 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."
Volleyball Australia chief executive Andrew Dee added: "As local organising committee, our focus remains on ensuring we deliver a spectacular world championships.
"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."
In response, Dutch volleyball association technical director Heleen Crielaard told The Guardian: "We have no choice but to accept the decision."
Rhianna Benson