The IOC says athlete selection rests with each country’s NOC following the controversy involving convicted rapist Steven van de Velde. GETTY IMAGES

The International Olympic Committee said it had no role in Dutch volleyball's decision to pick a convicted child rapist for the Paris Games: a selection criticised by several athlete advocacy organisations. Last month the Dutch Olympic Committee selected beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde —who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2014— to represent the country in the Olympic Games. 

In 2016, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain after pleading guilty to three counts of rape of a minor and was placed on a permanent sex offenders registry in the U.K. He served part of his sentence there but was later transferred to the Netherlands where his sentence was adjusted to the standards of Dutch law and was released after just 12 months. Van de Velde has been competing in beach volleyball again since 2017.



Van de Velde and partner Matthew Immers were one of two men’s teams from the Netherlands that qualified for the beach volleyball competition at the Paris Games. Most beach pairs qualify for the 24-team Olympic field by earning points on the international tour; Van de Velde and Immers were 11th on the points list. The Dutch Olympic committee said Van de Velde met the conditions required to return after a conviction.

"Van de Velde now meets all the qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team," the committee said.



The selection of athletes for the Olympics rests with each country’s NOC though the IOC does send individual invitations following the national nominations.

"The nomination of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee," an IOC spokesperson said.



This edition of the Olympic Games is set to host young Olympians around Van de Velde’s victim’s age; including 11-year-old Zheng Haohao and 12-year-old Vareeraya Sukasem. Several athletes and rights groups, including The Sports & Rights Alliance Athletes Network for Safer Sports, have opposed Van de Velde's inclusion: urging the IOC to prohibit van de Velde from participating, stating, "An athlete convicted of child sexual abuse, no matter in what country, should not be awarded the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games". Kyniska Advocacy also stated that it undermined the survivor's experiences and suggested that sporting skill outweighs criminal behaviour.

"Van de Velde's presence on the Dutch Olympic team completely disrespects and invalidates the survivor of his crimes," said Kate Seary, co-founder & director of Kyniska Advocacy which works for the protection and respect of women in sports.

"His participation sends a message to everyone that sporting prowess trumps crime."