Mr. Van de Velde was convicted of raping a 12 year old child. Due to his criminal actions on a child, we firmly declare our opposition to his participation as an Olympiad in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games or any future Olympic Games. The IOC has standards Olympiads must uphold and clearly being a known, convicted rapist is not one of those "standards". In addition, Olympiads live in Olympic Village with underage fellow Olympiads. As a convicted and registered sex offender and pedophile Mr.Van de Velde should not be allowed to participate.

In 2016, Mr. Van de Velde admitted and was found guilty by courts for grooming and subsequently raping a 12-year-old child. He found her Facebook profile when she was only 10 years old and began grooming her. He completed these actions as an adult, intentionally purchasing plane tickets to fly from Netherlands to the UK when she was only 12 and he was 19. He only served a mere 12 months of his 4 year sentence for his appalling actions before being released.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children stated: "Van de Velde's lack of remorse and self-pity is astonishing, and we can only imagine how distressed his victim must feel upon seeing his comments. Grooming can leave a child feeling ashamed or even guilty, because they believe they have somehow willingly participated when, in reality, an adult has preyed upon them for sexual exploitation."

We assert the most crucial understanding: The Olympics is a global event promoting unity, integrity, and respect. The Olympic audience comprises of families and children from across the world, all of whom deserve to have faith in the contestants' integrity. Allowing a known child rapist to represent any country at the Paris 2024 Olympics sends a devastating message to children and victims of sexual assault - that their safety, dignity, and value are secondary to the accolades of a sports person, regardless of their heinous crimes. 

It is imperative for the global community , for all who watch and participate in the Olympics, especially the 2024 Olympic Committee and the Dutch National Olympic Team, to demonstrate an uncompromising stand on child safety and respect for victims of sexual violence. We, therefore, request the IOC to ban Mr. Van de Velde from the 2024 Olympics, sending a strong statement that there is no place for sexual offenders on a global honor podium. That minors are protected in Olympic Village and Olympic games.

Your support will amplify our stand, and help foster a safer environment for all and uphold the IOC ethics and code of conduct.

Please sign this petition. Keep children safe, hold adults who commit horrendous crimes accountable for their actions.