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Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of rape is booed before first match at Olympics (apnews.com)

submitted 2 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/world@lemmy.world

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Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison for rape, received a mixture of boos and applause when he was introduced before his opening match on Sunday at the Paris Games.

Van de Velde was greeted with only a handful of boos when he first took the sand for warmups, but the hooting was louder for the more formal pre-match introduction. His teammate Matthew Immers – and all the other players appearing at the Eiffel Tower Stadium so far in the Summer Games – received nothing but cheers.

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[-] psycho_driver@lemmy.world 163 points 2 months ago

He raped a 12 year old girl and served 1 year in prison before his country rescued him and set him free.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 110 points 2 months ago

And then called it 'nonsense' to the press. He has no remorse whatsoever.

[-] worldwidewave@lemmy.world 28 points 2 months ago

We need some British attendees to bring milkshaking to the global stage. If ever someone deserved it

[-] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago

Or at least make up a hurtful song about the nonce. They have songs for rival sports teams and individual players. If they start singing about him diddling kids on the world stage it will embarrass him and the Olympics.

[-] daellat@lemmy.world 140 points 2 months ago

What an ambarassment for my country. I thought surely if they let him play it must have been some Russian sham trial but no it was in England.

Why is this fuck allowed to show up and represent the Netherlands? Gross.

[-] Jakdracula@lemmy.world 112 points 2 months ago

The USA has a rapist running for president.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 53 points 2 months ago

He's also a convicted felon.

[-] Zorque@lemmy.world 24 points 2 months ago

Also gross.

[-] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 20 points 2 months ago

As an American I'm mortified about that as well.

[-] humorlessrepost@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

Most people hold the Netherlands to a higher standard. It’s like the “at least we’re not Alabama” of international politics.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 10 points 2 months ago

Running? He was a rapist when he was president, too. For 4 years.

[-] Moonrise2473@feddit.it 27 points 2 months ago

Like if there was nobody else in the whole country that isn't a convicted child rapist

[-] Imhotep@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I haven't been convicted!

no, wait

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Officers! This guy. This guy right here!

He needs a detail while running for office.

[-] WEFshill202@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

I'm so embarrassed for my countrymen as well, is this really how we want to be represented?

[-] Visstix@lemmy.world 132 points 2 months ago

And then lost. Could have just left him at home and saved a lot of trouble.

[-] AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com 85 points 2 months ago

A volleyball player, a rapist, and a paedophile walk into a bar.

"Get out of my bar, Steven van de Velde" says the barman.

[-] xc2215x@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

Glad he is booed.

[+] Beaver@lemmy.ca -15 points 2 months ago

Of course he is allowed.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 30 points 2 months ago

Of course? I thought the Olympics took ethics very seriously. I guess only ethics when it comes to what athletes put in their own body.

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 63 points 2 months ago

I thought the Olympics took ethics very seriously

You must be new 😄

I guess only ethics when it comes to what athletes put in their own body

Not even always that. See for example Russian athletes being allowed to compete in spite of decades of systematic doping.

Hell, China has 11 swimmers competing with no restrictions in spite of testing positive for banned substances in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics!

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 14 points 2 months ago

Yeah, but those are cases where the IOC is being defied and pretends not to notice. They can't pretend here because it's completely public. They just don't care. I'm assuming a substantial amount of money is at issue.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

WADAs story that 20+ Chinese swimmers tested positive for something they ate at their hotel back in 2021 sounds pretty absurd. Is that even possible?

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm no expert, but as far as I know it's in the "technically possible but so unlikely that it's a ridiculous defense" category.

Like when then-superstar of cycling Alberto Contador* tested positive for the main indicator of blood transfusion doping and blamed eating a rare steak 🤦😄

*I love that his name sounds super cool in the original Spanish, but if you translate it to English he's "Albert (the) Accountant" 😂

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Cyril Figgis taking his shot at Olympic medals.

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

[-] Timii@biglemmowski.win 29 points 2 months ago

Forget the IOC, how did anyone in the Netherlands think it was okay for him to represent their nation?

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 months ago

Oh, most people in the Netherlands who know about this think it's completely absurd and it shouldn't have happened.

But for some reason the Olympic Committee disagrees.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 17 points 2 months ago

They apparently forgave him the moment he stepped off the boat back when he got released.

[-] Visstix@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago

Well the people in charge of the olympic team at least.. not the whole country. I only heard about this dude recently and he can fuck right off.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

I haven't heard about any major protests in Amsterdam about them allowing a pedophile rapist on their Olympic team, have you?

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 24 points 2 months ago

I thought the Olympics took ethics very seriously.

They still let Russian athletes compete even after multiple issues with doping, just not under their own flag (wink wink).

Also the ioc is notoriously corrupt AF.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

I just think it's funny that they make this big deal about ethics and actually don't give a shit about it. But hey, they all swear an oath!

this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2024

377 points (97.5% liked)

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