CNN and BBC have reported that Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old girl, will compete for the Dutch beach volleyball team at the 2024 Olympics.
According to sources, the volleyball player served a year in prison and was released in 2017. Van de Velde has now been invited to join the Dutch beach volleyball team for the Olympic Games in Paris. Representatives of the Dutch Volleyball Federation stated that the player is currently behaving as an "exemplary human being and professional."
He was convicted at the time according to English law and he has served his sentence. There has been no reason to doubt him since his return.
Michel Everaert, general director of the Dutch volleyball federation
In 2014, van de Velde met a 12-year-old girl through social media and engaged in an intimate relationship with her. It is known that the athlete was aware of the girl's young age. Van de Velde was sentenced to four years of imprisonment for his actions. He served part of his sentence in a prison in the UK and was later extradited to his home country, where he was released.