Boss of Olympics team defends decision allowing volleyball player convicted of raping a 12-year-old to compete

Beach volleyball player and convicted rapist Steven Van de Velde will represent the Netherlands at the 2024 Olympics and the Chef de mission has weighed in on the 'fuss' around it.

In 2016, Van de Velde admitted to three counts of rape against a 12-year-old child when he was 19 and was convicted and sentenced to four years - released after 12 months.

While the judge who sentenced him told the sportsman he'd ruined his dreams of making the Olympics, Van de Velde, now 29, has since qualified for and will subsequently represent the Netherlands in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, leading to widespread outrage.

Steven van de Velde is competing in the 2024 Olympics (Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

During his sentencing, Judge Francis Sheridan told Van de Velde: "Prior to coming to this country you were training as a potential Olympian. Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream."

However, Van de Velde qualified to represent his country in the 2024 Olympics alongside beach volleyball partner Matthew Immers.

Defending its decision to allow the convicted rapist to compete, Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) told BBC Sport Van de Velde 'sought and received professional counselling' after his release from prison and 'demonstrated to those around him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection'.

And Netherlands Chef de Mission, Pieter van den Hoogenband, has since addressed the backlash too, explaining why he was 'a bit surprised' by it.

Netherlands Chef de Mission Pieter van den Hoogenband has said he was 'surprised' by the 'fuss' (Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

In an interview with Dutch news agency Nos, Van den Hoogenband said: "To be honest, I was a bit surprised by the fuss. He [Van de Velde] has been active in international sport, the beach volleyball world, for some time. He has played European Championships and World Cups, but then you see that things are different around the Games. That things are exaggerated.

"He’s not going to downplay it. We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to be able to perform."

Van den Hoogenband argued he and others 'don't have blinkers on' and don't have their eyes closed but ultimately Van de Velde 'qualified'.

The Chef de Mission resolved: "I'm the boss, responsible for the whole team, for the athletes. He's just a member of the team, he qualified, and that's why he deserves our support."

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org