Olympic spectators have loudly booed child rapist Steven van de Velde every time he has stepped onto the court to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball.
Unlike the other athletes, his name is greeted with boos and whistles when he is introduced to the crowd.
The hostile reaction continues during all his matches. It must be very unpleasant for him, but I don’t care.
Having worked with many victims of child abuse, I am appalled by her presence in Paris and shocked that it was considered appropriate for her to compete.
The Dutch Olympic Committee appears to have no morals involved and deemed it perfectly fine for a rapist to represent his country, saying he had “grown and changed his life positively.”
It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t expressed any remorse for his actions.
Olympic spectators have been loudly booing child rapist Steven van de Velde every time he has stepped onto the court to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball (pictured Friday)
While booing athletes is not in the spirit of the Olympics, in van de Velde’s case it is perfectly justified and allows officials to know exactly what the public thinks of their decision-making.
For those who don’t know, in 2014, aged 19, he travelled from Amsterdam to England to meet a 12-year-old girl he had been communicating with on Facebook. Aware of her age, he gave her alcohol and had sex with her.
One can only imagine how his victim feels seeing him on the world stage.
I continue to be surprised that some people, including respected journalists, are speaking out in his defence and arguing that Van de Velde has already served his sentence and should be allowed to get on with his life.
But let’s not lose sight of the fact that he was sentenced to a paltry four years by a British court, and served only one year before being extradited to the Netherlands, where he served a further month before being released.
That’s right, a total of 13 months for raping a minor. Meanwhile, his victim faces a life sentence for what he did to her.
It’s one thing to be allowed to get on with your life, but quite another to do so while representing your country at the world’s most prestigious sporting event. Aren’t Olympic athletes supposed to be role models?
When British dressage competitor Charlotte Dujardin was filmed cruelly whipping her horse, there was – quite rightly – outrage and she was banned from taking part in the Games.
But isn’t there anything wrong with raping a young girl? What the hell is everyone thinking?
My work has taught me that the consequences of child sexual abuse often reverberate throughout the victim’s life. They can affect their mental health, career, education, family and personal relationships.
Dr Max (pictured) remains astonished that some people, including respected journalists, are speaking out in favour of Steven van de Velde.
They may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, personality disorders and depression. Victims often have issues with trust, intimacy and self-esteem.
Many also feel ashamed and guilty. Was it their fault? Did they somehow encourage the perpetrator?
I have worked with people in their 70s and even 80s who still haven’t fully gotten over what happened to them as children. It’s heartbreaking. It’s true that many try valiantly to rebuild their lives as best they can, but there is no guarantee that this will happen and some never recover.
I have heard arguments that because Van de Velde did not physically force the girl to have sex with him, this reduces his offence. Sorry, what?
Let’s be clear: according to the law, a 12-year-old child cannot consent to sexual intercourse. Any sexual activity with a minor is, by definition, rape.
Steven van de Velde (pictured on Sunday) was sentenced to four years in jail by a British court, and served just one before being extradited to the Netherlands, where he served a further month before being released.
And he did it not just once, but three times, compounding his victim’s suffering. He has had a decade to reflect on his atrocious actions. He could have used his platform to speak openly about the impact of child sexual abuse or to campaign on behalf of victims of sexual violence.
Instead, he has complained about “all the nonsense” surrounding his crime, a comment the NSPCC has strongly condemned, saying his “lack of remorse and self-pity is astonishing”.
For me, his presence in Paris is a stain on the history of the Olympic Games.
I refuse to accept that we should all forgive and forget. Child rapists should feel the impact of their crimes for the rest of their lives, just as their victims do.
The Royal College of Physicians says doctors should discuss climate change with patients. Really? You wait forever for an appointment and suddenly they start talking about the climate. Do these people really think that’s what patients want?
Why it’s okay to be a “beggar friend”
Lily Allen has described James Corden as a “begging friend” – someone who “begs” for your attention in the hopes of forming a friendship.
From his description, it appears that he misread her signals and thought there was more to their relationship than there really was. But who hasn’t been in the same situation?
Lily Allen has described James Corden as a “begging friend” – someone who “begs” for your attention in the hope of forming a friendship.
I spend a lot of time talking to my patients about the benefits of friendship and how it is worth taking the occasional risk of rejection to try to maintain it.
A change in circumstances (perhaps a change of job or home) can make any of us suddenly feel alone.
The only solution is to go out and meet people, because the alternative is a life in the shadows.
So, I don’t think being a “begging friend” is the insult it’s intended to be. Good for everyone who is putting in the effort and trying to make friends.
The inquest into the death of Maeve Boothby-O’Neill, who died of ME (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome) at the age of just 27, has highlighted how little doctors really understand about the condition and how few resources are allocated to it.
Current medical opinion is that MS is the result of complex physical and psychological factors.
Most doctors working in this field are psychiatrists, although some have received abuse and even death threats from a small number of ME activists who feel that the involvement of mental health professionals in this field somehow suggests that it is not a “real illness”.
What is clear is that more research and specialist services are needed and without them, patients will continue to suffer.
Dr. Max prescribes…Yoga and meditation
I am a big fan of Ayurveda after studying it in medical school, especially when combined with yoga and meditation.
Ayurvedic medicine is a 5,000-year-old form of alternative medicine that has its origins in India and is still widely practiced there.
I am a big fan of Ayurveda after studying it in medical school, especially when combined with yoga and meditation as it is great for managing anxiety and stress.
I’m even planning to go on an Ayurvedic retreat later this year.
