Former Australian swimmer James Magnussen has added his voice to calls for a Dutch volleyball star to be banned from the Olympics.
Beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19.
Her inclusion in the team has sparked controversy and security has been tightened at the Dutch team’s base in the athletes’ village.
The Dutch Olympic Committee has been criticised for selecting the 29-year-old, with women’s rights groups calling for him to be removed from the team.
Van de Velde insists he is not a “paedophile” or a “sex monster” and will launch his beach volleyball campaign beneath the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday.
And Magnussen, a two-time Olympian who will compete in the controversial Enhanced Games, expressed shock at learning of van de Velde’s infraction and his inclusion in the Dutch team.
He believes that the seriousness of his crime should justify his expulsion from the Games.
“I am surprised that the Dutch have chosen this. I think the Olympic Committee should refute this idea,” Magnussen said.
“It’s an interesting situation. I assume he’s already served his sentence, but that particular crime is a serious problem.
“If you had said shoplifting, I would have said no big deal, but rape is serious.
‘I would say that you have to deal with things on a case-by-case basis when dealing with convicted criminals.
James Magnussen has become embroiled in the huge controversy that has marred the Olympic Games
‘In terms of paedophilia, there is no place for that in the Olympic Games, that is not what it is about.
‘Pedophilia is the worst thing there is.
‘There is no way Swimming Australia would allow someone (with a similar criminal offence) to represent Australia.
“It’s strange that the Netherlands has done that. I know they are a progressive country, but that is a serious offence.”
Van de Velde is not in the Olympic Village and has been placed in isolation. Dutch authorities have also banned him from speaking to the media.
Since serving 13 months of his four-year sentence in a British prison, van de Velde is now married and has a son.
Dutch head of mission Pieter van den Hoogenband addressed the controversy when questioned on Dutch television this week.
“He’s not going to downplay it,” he said.
“We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team so he can perform at his best.”
Harry Garside, the Australian boxing star who won bronze in Tokyo, said the decision on van de Velde’s inclusion was left to the International Olympic Committee.
“I don’t know much about this case,” he said.
‘I don’t know the details of the case, but it’s one of those things where I guess the public will have to form their own opinion.
“If he pleads guilty then it will be a pretty serious case.”
An IOC representative said the governing body had no influence on Selection by van de Velde.
Convicted rapist Steven van de Velde to compete for the Netherlands in Paris
Magnussen says the seriousness of the 29-year-old’s offence should justify his expulsion
Meanwhile, British running legend Paula Radcliffe has apologised after saying she was… ‘wishing him (van de Velde) the best of luck’ during a shocking radio interview with LBC.
“It’s very difficult to punish him[van de Velde]twice, and if he has managed to successfully turn his life around after being sent to prison and qualify and play sport at the highest level, then I really wish him the best of luck,” the BBC pundit said.
After sparking a huge backlash for her shocking comments — and rejecting claims that Van de Velde should not be competing — Radcliffe released a statement of apology on social media.
The 50-year-old urged that she “categorically condemns” the rape and explained why she made her comments about Van de Velde.
“I gave an interview last night and made some comments that I deeply regret,” he said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
‘I want to sincerely apologise and emphasise that I categorically condemn the crime of rape. I am ashamed that my words portrayed me so inaccurately. It was a mistake not to denounce it clearly from the beginning.
‘In trying to explain how the athlete in question could be allowed to compete at the Olympics, my thought process was about legalities and regulations when I also sought to highlight the danger of these allowing an athlete convicted of such a crime to return.
‘Competing in the Olympic Games is a privilege that should be reserved for those who uphold Olympic moral ideals.
‘I shouldn’t have wished him luck at all and I honestly have no explanation for why I said that.
“I sincerely regret having misstated my views and realise that this statement cannot in any way repair the damage, but I hope it conveys my deepest regrets. Paula Radcliffe.”