Convicted Child Rapist Steven Van de Velde Breaks Down in First Interview Since Getting Booed at Paris Olympics
Steven Van de Velde qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the Dutch duo with Immers, sparking global controversy and prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to comment on his inclusion. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams mentioned that while the committee was not necessarily "comfortable and happy" with the decision, they respect national Olympic committees' autonomy in choosing their athletes and noted that the Dutch committee had thoroughly considered Van de Velde's participation.
Key critics of Steven Van de Velde’s inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympics
A petition, garnering over 135,000 signatures, circulated before the Games, demanding that the IOC ban him from participating. "This is about more than just one person; it's about the worldwide image of the Olympics and the kind of society we want to live in," petition author Lauren Muir wrote.
Advocacy groups for rape victims have strongly opposed Van de Velde's participation, with the U.K.-based Survivors Trust calling it an "endorsement of the shocking toleration we have of child sexual abuse.” Gentry Estes, a USA Today reporter, labeled Van de Velde's situation as the "nastiest storyline" of the Olympics.
READ MORE: Outrage Mounts Over Convicted Child Abuser's Inclusion at Paris Olympics; Pressure Grows on IOC to Probe
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