The organization of the Paris Olympic Games also stressed that it was not comfortable with the participation of the Dutchman
OR Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde has been making headlines around the world in recent days after being confirmed in Paris Olympic GamesThe athlete was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl.
Paris Games coverage in Earth It’s an offer from Vale.
In response to the backlash, the spokesperson for International Olympic CommitteeMark Adams, who said the organization does not feel comfortable or satisfied with allowing Steven van de Velde to participate, stressed, however, that the crime occurred 10 years ago and that the athlete has been in constant rehabilitation since then.
“To classify him as comfortable and happy would not be correct. Let’s make it clear that we have had long discussions with the Dutch Olympic Committee. Ten years ago a crime took place, there has been a lot of rehabilitation and there are strong guarantees. The athlete does not even stay in the villa. We believe that the national committee has already explained its decision. Comfortable and happy, classify him as you want, but the position they have given us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is. “, he said in a speech broadcast by Globe Network.
The athlete’s removal from the Olympic Village came after the condemnation received widespread media coverage. Even before the IOC’s announcement, he had been housed in alternative accommodation. He is also apparently banned from speaking to the media about the matter.
Despite this, the IOC has been criticized for Van de Velde’s presence, with accusations that the sporting body would send a dangerous message to rapists and cause “collateral damage” to victims of sexual abuse, as reported by British newspaper The Guardian.
What is known about the case?
In 2014, Steven van de Velde, 19, decided to travel from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Milton Keynes, the United Kingdom, to meet a 12-year-old student he had met online. According to conversations collected by the Tribunal, he knew the girl was a virgin and a minor. During a date with her, the Dutchman forced her to have sex.
The crime was discovered after the girl, whose identity has not been revealed, went to a clinic and asked the doctor to take the morning-after pill. According to her, the Dutch athlete forced her to consult. The doctors, suspicious of the girl’s story, called the police. In 2016, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison for rape. Part of his sentence was previously served in the United Kingdom.
In the judgment on the case, published by the English The Guardiansaid Judge Francis Sheridan. “A young, naive and foolish child believed that you loved her. In fact you only knew her on the Internet, had never met her before and were fully aware of the age difference. The emotional damage that has been done to this child is enormous. As she matures, she will have to realise that you are not the kind man she thought you were and hoped you were.”
In 2017, now free, Van de Velde returned to compete, at the time, paired with Matthew Immers, who will make his Olympic debut on Sunday 28, in a match against the Italians Ranghieri and Carambula.
Source: Terra
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