![The International Olympic Committee is facing demands to investigate why a convicted rapist is able to compete in the 2024 Games.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLEAN-GettyImagesVanDeVelde_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Thu-Jul-25-2024.jpg?w=1920)
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
NOT JUST ANYBODY CAN REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRY AT THE OLYMPICS. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS ITS OWN RULES AND ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS.
NOW MANY ARE DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW A MAN CONVICTED OF RAPING A 12-YEAR-OLD IS ALLOWED TO REPRESENT THE NETHERLANDS IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL.
STEVEN VAN DE VELDE IS SET COMPETE IN THE PARIS GAMES– AND HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE DUTCH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE– WHICH SAYS HE’S DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY SINCE HIS CONVICTION TO EARN THE RIGHT TO BE AN OLYMPIAN.
BUT THAT’S NOT QUELLING INTERNATIONAL FURY.
ADVOCATES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS ARE OUTRAGED OVER HIS APPEARANCE AT THE GAMES.
CRITICS SAY HE’S SHOWN A “CHILLING” LACK OF REMORSE AND HIS PARTICIPATION SENDS A MESSAGE THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR RAPE.
THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO FACING CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW HE IS ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN PARIS.
THE I-O-C SAYS THE SELECTION OF ATHLETES IS UP TO INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES.
HOWEVER, BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA’S COMMITTEES SAID THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER TO COMPETE.
OLYMPIC OFFICIALS HAVE ADVISED VAN DE VELDE TO STAY OUTSIDE THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE TO AVOID PUBLICITY.
VAN DE VELDE MAINTAINS HE’S A CHANGED MAN.
HE RAPED THE 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THER U-K IN 2014 WHEN HE WAS 19.
HE SERVED A YEAR IN A BRITAIN PRISON BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE NETHERLANDS AND RELEASED IN 2017.
HE’S STILL A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER IN THE U-K.
AT THE TIME OF HIS SENTENCING IN 2016, THE JUDGE TOLD HIM HIS HOPES OF REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY “NOW LIE AS A SHATTERED DREAM.”
BUT VAN DE VELDE HAS APPARENTLY REBUILT THAT DREAM.
THE DUTCH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SAYS HE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE AND ASSERTED THERE IS NO RISK OF “RECIDIVISM.”
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