Niederländische Olympia-Organisatoren verteidigen Teilnahme einer wegen Vergewaltigung verurteilten Athletin

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/world/europe/steven-van-de-velde-dutch-volleyball-olympics.html

42 comments

  3. There is a difference between doing your time and reintegration, and representing your country as a criminal. In the Netherlands there are many jobs that you may not perform with a criminal record such as teaching and banking. IMO this person should not be representing the Netherlands in an official capacity.

  4. I heard the bar is so low in Netherlands they have to fight water so it doesn’t get submerged

  5. Its the Netherlands, they give killers a few years and let them go, what do you expect?

  6. These same people defend Black Pete. Not surprised. I wouldn’t bet against their rapist Olympian to show up to the opening ceremonies in black face.

  7. “he’s a child rapist, but he’s damn good at volleyball” is not a good excuse to let somebody represent your country

  9. Many Dutch people are appalled and ashamed of this decision too.

  10. So a child rapist is representative of the best the Netherlands has to offer? Did they not wonder if they might be selling themselves just a little short?

  11. It’s the letting him out of prison early on top of it all that makes this especially egregious. I mean should rapists be in the Olympics at all? What about early-release rapists?

  13. I think this was a bad decision.

    I can understand that he was allowed to compete, but not to represent the Netherlands in the Olympics.

    It sends a bad message.

  14. The Dutch appreciate frankness right? All of you who defend a rapist are shit stains. Got it?

  16. If I was Dutch I’d be fucking pissed there was a child rapist representing me internationally.

  17. Did anybody on his team talk about having to play with a child rapist? I don’t understand why anybody would want this POS close to them or their friends/family

  18. I’m counting on the people of France and fellow athletes to make this man’s Olympic dream an absolute nightmare.

  19. What being a talented athlete can do, this is insane, this guy should still be in prison and the only balls he should play with should be the others inmates until this day, this is a joke of a sentence.

  20. Not surprised coming from a country that defends black face as tradition.

  21. Unfortunately it seems these days a lot of people just don’t care, Americans are going to vote for a sex offender as their next president

  23. As a Dutch person, fuck this, the guy is a rapist and now he represents us at the Olympics? I hope he has diarrhea during his competition.

  25. Should he deserve a second chance at life after serving his sentence? Yes.

    Should he be able to participate at the Olympics where he is a role model for others? HELL NO. His past actions should have consequences. He shouldn’t be allowed to teach either or work with children because of this.

  27. Not sure how it benefits him or The Netherlands. Even if he wins a medal.

  28. I’m unfamiliar with the selection process of Olympic teams, but could they seriously not find anyone else? Is this guy like, the Dutch Messiah of Volleyball and that’s why they’re camping so hard for him?

  29. I didn’t read the article, but after people have done their time, whether it’s criminals or rapists, I believe they should still be allowed to participate in society. It may be a horrible thing they did but they shouldn’t be forever shunned from society after they have paid for their actions in prison for god knows how long. Everyone deserves a second chance.

  30. The three values of olympism are excellence, respect and friendship. He has excellence, but spectacularly fails on the other two. Every olympian has excellence, but they need to at least get a pass on the other two and he cannot.

  31. Hope they heckle and boo him every time he touches the ball.

  32. 1) He did not serve his sentence. And 2) of all crimes one could commit, rape (especially of children) should never be forgiven and these perpetrators should forever be ostracised. Rape victims hardly ever will have the chance again to a fulfilling life. What a despicable lack of morality.

  34. Represent your country on Olimpia is very hi level honour I would not be happy if my country was represented by convicted rapist. I don’t think he should be allowed part of punishment.

  36. Whats wild is hes puttting himself out to the world. Hiw is he not trying to hide in a whole somewhere?

  38. As someone from the Netherlands, how do we get this guy disqualified?

  39. This is really appalling, dreadful, horrendous just a few words of disgust that came to my mind.

    Not only is this a direct middle finger to the victim which in itself is horrific but also he doesn’t show any remorse for his assault and rape whatsoever.

    Fuck me this is beyond anything people or a country should represent.

    I can’t even put into words how sorry I feel for the victim.

    Just when you thought with all the crap going on right now around the world, you think surely this can’t get worse.

    Netherland is like hold on for a second

  41. That’s a totally unbiased stance from the Dutch committee

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