Netherlands beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who has a criminal record for child rape, has been prohibited from entering Australia for the upcoming world championships. The 31-year-old athlete was scheduled to compete at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide next month, but his visa application was rejected by the Australian government.
Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Australians in their communities. Responding to the decision, Van de Velde acknowledged that his criminal history and Australian government policies could present obstacles in obtaining a visa.
The Dutch volleyball association (Nevobo) confirmed that Van de Velde and his doubles partner, Alexander Brouwer, will not be participating in the event. Despite submitting all necessary documents and justifications to support his participation, the Australian authorities declined to issue the visa, a decision that the team has reluctantly accepted.
Van de Velde, who committed the offenses at the age of 19 in 2014, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for three counts of rape. Following a 13-month incarceration, he resumed his sports career in 2018. Despite calls for his exclusion from the Paris Olympics last year, he represented the Netherlands, as the International Olympic Committee noted its inability to intervene due to his qualification through standard procedures.
Volleyball Australia’s chief executive, Andrew Dee, was informed of the government’s ban on Van de Velde recently. The focus now remains on delivering a successful world championships event, which will feature nine Australian teams competing. The Beach Volleyball World Championships are scheduled to take place from Friday, November 14, to Sunday, November 23.