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The Paris 2024 Olympics are underway. But there's an elephant in the room — a rapist named Steven van de Velde.
Earlier this year, it came to light that Dutch Olympic officials had allowed volleyball player van de Velde to compete this year in the Games.
For context, van de Velde was convicted in 2016 for the rape of a 12-year-old British schoolgirl, in what was described as a "planned, calculated" assault.
The athlete, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison for the crime but was released after one year. Despite widespread criticism, he was chosen to represent the Netherlands at the Olympic Games.
Watch: Your period doesn't care if it's The Olympics. Post continues below.
"We know Steven's history," said Michel Everaert, a general director at the Dutch Volleyball Federation, Nevobo, in a statement.
"He was convicted at the time according to English law and he has served his sentence. From then on, we have been in constant contact with Steven, who has now been fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community."
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