Steven Van De Velde

In 2014, Steven Van De Velde, then aged 19, contacted a 12-year-old girl via social media and travelled from the Netherlands to Milton Keynes in the UK to meet her, where he raped her. This incident led to his arrest and subsequent prosecution in the British courts.

Van De Velde admitted to three charges of rape at Aylesbury Crown Court in 2016. He was sentenced to four years in prison, serving 13 months before being released and returning to the Netherlands to resume his beach volleyball career in 2018. The conviction has followed him throughout his sporting achievements, including his participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he competed alongside teammate Matthew Immers, winning only one of four matches.

Recently, the Australian government denied Van De Velde a visa to compete in the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, starting on 14 November 2024. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the decision was influenced by Van De Velde's criminal record, emphasising the government's commitment to public safety: 'The government will continue to use every tool we have available to ensure that Australians can be safe and feel safe in their communities.' Van De Velde acknowledged the potential issue in a statement, noting that the outcome was anticipated and accepted by him and his team.

Despite calls from victims' advocates, politicians, and sports fans to ban him from international competitions, the International Olympic Committee stated it was powerless to prevent the Netherlands from selecting him, as he qualified through standard procedures. Post-Olympics, Van De Velde and Immers secured a bronze medal at the 2024 European Beach Volleyball Championships in the Netherlands. Volleyball Australia CEO Andrew Dee confirmed the visa refusal only days before the event, reaffirming their focus on delivering a successful tournament.