Let's (not) talk about sex(ual assault)
Why the internet outrage during the Olympics was misplaced.
You are likely familiar with some of the stories that garnered outrage during the Paris 2024 Olympics. The controversial opening ceremony. Imane Khelif. Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal. All stories that received significant attention across media platforms, whether warranted or not.
You may be only slightly/less/not at all familiar with beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde of the Netherlands.
Photo credit: BSR Agency/Getty
CBS News reported “Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain after being convicted in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old girl he got to know on Facebook, according to CBS News' partner network BBC News. He was transferred back to the Netherlands under a treaty between the countries and allowed to serve his sentence there, but was released after 12 months.”
To put that more simply, when Van de Velde was 19 years old, he raped a 12 year old. He was tried and convicted in a court of law. He went to prison.
Both he and the Netherlands’ Olympic chief were ‘surprised’ at the reactions to his being allowed to compete in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says his selection to the Dutch Olympic team was not under their jurisdiction, rather the selection is the responsibility of the national organizing body.
Jimmy Goolan of the AP reported when asked if they were protecting a convicted child rapist, Dutch team spokesman John van Vliet said “We are protecting a convicted child rapist to do his sport as best as possible and for a tournament which he qualified for."
Van de Velde said at one point he considered quitting the Olympics, but decided to stay in, thinking “I don’t want that. I’m not going to give others the power to decide they can bully me away or get rid of me.”
I wonder what his victim thinks of those two statements.
Sexual abuse and sport are not two concepts that have never intertwined before. There is a long and tragic history of sexual harassment and abuse being ignored, shrugged off, or treated with minimal repercussions. You’re likely familiar with the big cases in recent years (linked stories may have details of sexual assault): Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics, Jerry Sandusky and Penn State, Baylor’s sexual assault scandal, Ohio State’s sexual assault scandal. The University of Michigan's sexual assault scandal. Hockey Canada's sexual assault scandal. Abuse in U.S. Women’s professional soccer. USA Swimming. It is an injustice for me to not be able to list every single instance of sexual abuse and assault that has occurred in sports, but if I did, you’d be here the rest of the day.
The familiar reaction to these stories when they do come to light - because not all do - generally centers on “How? How could this happen?” Sporting structures, as they are, can create a breeding ground that allows abuse to happen. Sporting culture, as it is, allows it to flourish. Media allows those structures and cultures to go unchecked.
Research that has examined media coverage on sexual assault and abuse in and beyond sport typically uses framing theory to examine how the issue of sexual assault covered. Of interest to this research is the notions of episodic and thematic framing. News stories that use episodic framing typically place the blame on one person, one bad apple. A Jerry Sandusky. A Larry Nassar. Once that ‘one bad seed’ is removed, poof! The problem is solved! Thematic framing looks at an issue from a broad lens, considering the structures and conditions that allowed the problem to happen, and continue to happen.
What we see in research is that news media typically covers these stories of sexual assault in sport from an episodic lens, however more recent examinations have begun to find some evidence of thematic framing.
But, but, but! Van de Velde IS just one person! This isn’t the same thing as USA Gymnastics or Penn State or (insert any instance of systemic sport abuse)! And while you are correct that Van de Velde is just one person, it’s these cultures and structures and media frames that allow for the attitude of “But he’s really good at his sport” to continue (see also: Brock Turner). For outright victim blaming and the perpetuation of rape myths to echo across social media. For the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to allow a fencer who was under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct to participate at the Tokyo Olympics (but he had to stay by himself in a hotel!). For the IOC to fail to specify the protocols and standards for prevention and reporting of sexual violence in the Olympic Village.
For Van de Velde to have the nerve to say he was staying in the Games because he didn’t want to be bullied.
To be fair, he was boo’d during his opening match, as can be seen here.
To also be fair, I have seen the Phillies fans boo their own players with much more vigor and passion than that.
No one instance of sexual assault in sport is an isolated incident. Even if it is ‘just one person,’ understand that the complex structures and cultures behind the scenes ensure that it is so much bigger than that ‘one’ person. If these structures and cultures are unwilling to change (unless their hand is forced with something so significant they cannot brush it under the rug), then it is up to us to demand accountability and change.
I’m pretty sure Van de Velde’s victim would be thankful if he had been banned from competition. As would any other victim of sexual harassment, assault, or abuse who has had to stand on the sideline and watch their abuser continue to play their sport.