Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who has a criminal background as a convicted rapist, has been denied a visa to compete in the upcoming Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, South Australia. The championships are set to take place next month, but the decision to bar van de Velde from entry comes amidst considerable public outcry and opposition to his participation.
Van de Velde’s conviction dates back to 2016, when he was sentenced to four years in prison in the UK for raping a 12-year-old girl. He met the victim through Facebook and traveled from Amsterdam to commit the crime in 2014. After serving 13 months of his sentence, he returned to the Netherlands and resumed his sports career, even representing his country at the Paris Olympics last year, a move that received widespread criticism from the public and sports community.
The anticipated participation of van de Velde at next month’s championships faced significant backlash, prompting South Australia’s Attorney-General Kyam Maher to lobby the federal government for visa denial. Maher expressed the sentiment that “foreign child sex offenders should not be granted entry” into Australia. This opinion was echoed by the public, as an online petition to reject van de Velde’s visa garnered over 4,000 signatures.
In light of the visa denial, the Dutch volleyball association (Nevobo) announced that both van de Velde and his doubles partner, Alexander Brouwer, would not be competing. Technical director Heleen Crielaard expressed regret over the situation while confirming the finality of the visa decision. Van de Velde acknowledged the possibility of visa issues due to his past, indicating an awareness of the implications surrounding his criminal background.
Brouwer took to social media to express his disappointment, noting that this decision means the end of his competitive season. He had looked forward to participating in what would have been his seventh World Championships alongside van de Velde.
As the world of sport grapples with the complexities of past transgressions and public safety, the decision serves as a reminder of the broader societal implications when it comes to the inclusion of individuals with serious criminal backgrounds in competitive platforms.