Olympian convicted of child rape in UK banned from World Championships | Other | Sport
Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player and convicted child rapist, has been barred from entering Australia for the upcoming world championships. The 31-year-old was scheduled to compete in the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide next month, but his visa application has been denied by the Australian government.
Tony Burke, the Minister for Home Affairs, said: “The government will continue to use every tool we have available to ensure that Australians can be safe and feel safe in their communities.” Responding to the decision, Van de Velde acknowledged through the Dutch Volleyball Association that he had foreseen potential issues with obtaining a visa due to Australian government policy and his criminal history.
“We took into account that the combination of the policies of the Australian authorities and my past might pose a problem for obtaining a visa,” he said.
“This outcome is accepted not only by me, but also by the rest of the team with whom we have been working closely throughout the year.”
The Dutch Volleyball Association (Nevobo) has also confirmed that Van de Velde and his doubles partner, Alexander Brouwer, will not be participating in the tournament.
“For this application, we have attached all the documents requested by the Australian authorities and substantiated why we think he should be able to play the World Cup in Australia,” said Heleen Crielaard, technical director of the Dutch Volleyball Association.
“Unfortunately, we have now been told that it has been decided not to issue the visa. We think that’s a shame, but we have no choice but to accept the decision.”
Van de Velde was aged 19 in 2014 when he contacted his 12-year-old victim on social media and travelled to Milton Keynes to rape her.
He admitted three charges of rape at Aylesbury Crown Court and was sentenced to four years in jail in 2016.
He spent 13 months of the sentence in prison before resuming his sporting career in 2018.
Last year, he represented the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics despite victims’ advocates, politicians and supporters of the sport calling for him to be banned.
The International Olympic Committee said it was powerless to stop the Netherlands from sending an athlete who qualified in the usual way.
Volleyball Australia chief executive Andrew Dee said he was only told of the government’s decision to ban Van de Velde on Tuesday.
“As local organising committee, our focus remains on ensuring we deliver a spectacular world championships,” he said.
“It will be the biggest beach volleyball event in the world this year and the first time we will have nine Aussie teams proudly wearing the green and gold. That is what we all should now focus on and celebrate.”
The Beach Volleyball World Championships will run from Friday, November 14, to Sunday, November 23.
