– The Netherlands Sends Convicted Child Rapist To Represent At Olympics:
In 1897, French sociologist Émile Durkheim put forward his theory of anomie. Durkeim postulated that a lack of social cohesion leading to the degradation of norms which cultures were built upon would inevitably lead to the dissolve of a society. His theory and heritage proved to be prescient, perhaps best illustrated by the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. While the controversial ceremony marked by satanic imagery, debauchery, gluttony, and transgenderism embodied the social degradation Durkeim forewarned of, the host nation that organized the garish display is not the only country whose participation in the games is marred by sexual depravity. In an even more brazen abandonment of respect for social and cultural norms, France’s neighbor the Netherlands has sent its compatriot Steven van de Velde to represent the nation at the 2024 games despite the fact that the beach volleyball player was sentenced to 4 years in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old girl on 2014.
In 2016 van de Velde was found guilty of traveling to Britain from his native country to meet a 12 year-old girl who he groomed through Facebook. While the victim initially told the Dutch Olympian that she was 16, she confessed her true age to van de Velde before he arrived to meet in her hometown of Milton Keynes, England. Upon arrival, van de Velde got the underaged girl drunk and raped her 3 times over the course of 2 days. He returned to his native Netherlands, advising the victim to get contraception over Facebook when they resumed their correspondence. She went to a local sexual health clinic for the morning-after pill and local authorities were alerted in consideration of her age.
Dutch authorities eventually extradited van de Velde back to Britain to face charges in March 2016. During proceedings, his victim revealed the toll the rape had taken on her. She described how the trauma inflicted upon her led her to commit self-harm and that she suffered a drug overdose trying to cope with the rape. In light of the abundance of evidence against him, van de Velde pled guilty to rape of a child under the age of 13 and was sentenced to 4 years in prison and placed on the UK sex offender registration list. At the time of his sentence, van de Velde was already an accomplished athlete and aspiring Olympian. This was not lost upon the court as the judge stated “Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.” going on to proclaim “Plainly it is a career end for him” to conclude his sentencing hearing.
Unfortunately, the judge’s remarks would not age well. The flaws in the justice system that enabled him to eventually achieve his lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics immediately took form as van de Velde was allowed to return to the Netherlands to serve his sentence in accordance with a treaty between the UK and the Netherlands. Upon his return, the 4-year prison term was adjusted to conform to Dutch law. After serving just 13 months behind bars, van de Velde was released from prison.
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