So you're watching an Olympic volleyball match between Norway and the Netherlands, and there's something you can't quite put your finger on. Amid the smiles and celebration, when one particular member of the Dutch team walks out, boos and jeers erupt.
You think to yourself, maybe he's had his reputation tarnished by using performance enhancing drugs, after all the World Anti Doping Authority has the power to strip athletes of medals or issue up to a lifetime ban for such egregious activity. Then you get caught up and you find out exactly why many people aren't celebrating Steven van de Velde and his inclusion on the largest sporting stage: he's a convicted child rapist.
When he was convicted in 2016, the judge in their closing remarks offered a sobering statement to Steven van de Velde that, ‘Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.’ It seems that dream was quickly rebuilt, as he was back playing internationally by 2017.
An English court imposed an initial sentence of four years in prison, but that too was short lived as he was released after only 13 months following a transfer to a Dutch prison, and a swift adjustment to his sentence.
I've heard so much about van de Velde’s right to a career, to rehabilitation, to happiness and nothing about the survivor who, at 12 years old was raped by a then-19-year-old Steven van de Velde, who admitted to being fully aware of her age at the time he flew to her from Amsterdam. Sporting pundits and media coverage seldom make reference to the emotional devastation she suffered, not to mention the self harm she dealt with, the overdose she thankfully survived, or the trauma she is no doubt healing from to this day.
Rehabilitation is an essential part of the criminal justice system, effective implementation of rehabilitative measures has been proven to prevent reoffending and improve outcomes for perpetrators and their communities.
The Dutch Olympic Committee certainly seem to believe Steven has been fully rehabilitated, with a spokesperson writing, “Steven is NOT a peadophile [sic]; you really don’t think that de Dutch NOC would send someone to Paris who IS a real risk? No, he isn’t a risk.”
Among many other factors, contrition is essential to rehabilitation, an acceptance of wrongdoing and a commitment to change. Van de Velde has stated that his actions were “the biggest mistake of my life”, a “mistake”, it should be noted, he admitted to making three times.
When does rehabilitation become an airbrushing of history? Van de Velde was convicted in England, a country where only 1% of sexual assault reports end in a conviction. When so few survivors are able to receive any semblance of justice, platforming those who do receive a conviction only serves to further discourage survivors from coming forward.
A public platform, whether in the world of music, sports, politics or any other field, is a privilege. Not just financially, as success inevitably brings with it monetary benefits, but a social privilege too. Olympians are role models, in sport as in lifestyle. They are meant to represent not only their country, but also the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship.
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When asked about any accommodations made for Van de Velde’s particular case, the Olympic team replied, “These measures include, at the request of van de Velde, alternative accommodation for van de Velde and no media contact during his stay in Paris.” This private accommodation has allegedly been put in place over fears for his safety, and he has presumably been told to avoid speaking to the media because there isn't a journalist in the world who would be able to avoid bringing up a conviction for the rape of a child. In a statement which truly underlines how much care and consideration is being given to a perpetrator of rape, John Vliet, press attaché for the Dutch team is quoted as having said “We are protecting a convicted child rapist, yes…”
Van de Velde’s actions do not exist in a vacuum, and sadly as with the platforming of many high profile rape cases, seemingly inevitable, heinous discourse has followed. Some of the media, which all too often platforms the most poisonous rhetoric, has been hard at work perpetuating a culture of victim blaming and rape apology.
Broadcaster Emma Woolf, while appearing as a guest on GB news, likened the rape to a “holiday romance”, adding, “I know 12-year-olds who are sassy and act like they're 16-year-old girls,” and "If I was judged for everything I did between the age of 12 and 19, I'd probably be in prison or something serious.”
Those who have experienced abuse, especially child sexual assault, might unfortunately be used to this sort of victim blaming rape apology, but allowing these kinds of voices and opinions to be platformed not only spreads it, but legitimises it.
This sort of language doesn't stop with headlines and think pieces, as we see it time and time again bleeding into courts across the world, with defence lawyers hunting for any perceived missteps which are used to discredit survivors and exonerate perpetrators.
Runner Paula Radcliffe said, "It's a tough thing to do to punish him twice and if he's managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and to qualify and be playing sport at the highest level, then I actually wish him the best of luck.” Paula has since apologised for her remarks, adding, "I profoundly apologise and am deeply shocked and disappointed in myself and can't understand how I managed to convey it so badly.”
When I see yet another high profile rapist or abuser try to succeed in laundering their career, it makes me think of the survivors, many of whom have had their lives and careers irrevocably altered or ended due to the actions of someone else. I think of their promising futures cut short, I think of the failures of a justice system seemingly unable or unwilling to prevent and punish abuse appropriately, and I think of the impact that seeing such high profile abusers allowed to occupy the public eye will have on those afraid to speak out.
Our Olympians, lauded as heroes, should inspire us to broaden our horizons, not serve as yet another reminder that survivors' needs go unmet, and voices go unheard.
Is a gold medal worth the trauma of seeing a rapist platformed as a role model? If a rapist is talented enough, if an abuser is useful, their actions will be forgiven and their lives will return to normal, that's if they are even found guilty in the first place.
It is being shown time and time again that there truly is no career too illustrious for those who commit abuse, assault or rape, all they need is time, patience, a useful skill or a large fanbase. The world may be able to swiftly move on from the actions of abusers, but many survivors cannot.
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