[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Bèsame*

Olympic Fever

Any excitement I had about the Olympics faded fast when I learned that Steven Van de Velde, 29, and his partner, Matthew Immers, secured their spot in the upcoming Games, for two men's beach volleyball.

While Immers didn't do anything criminal as far as I know and I actually feel kind of bad that he's stuck with the guy, Steven Van de Velde flew from Amsterdam to England ten years ago to meet a 12 year girl who he met online and was charged with raping her. He was aware of her age at the time and was sentenced to a 4 year term but only served one year in the Netherlands.

And I quote: The Dutch Olympic Committee has stood by its decision to nominate Van de Velde for the national team, despite the backlash. The organization has maintained that the decision lies with the national volleyball federation, which has opted not to impose further sanctions on him.

"Van de Velde now meets all the qualification requirements for the Olympic Games and is therefore part of the team," the committee said.

First, there are going to be TONS of underage girls there, both competing and as spectators and volunteers and working the event. Second, I don't think a person rightfully convicted of a violent crime should ever be able to participate and/or qualify for an Olympic event...or hold office...or take part in the judicial system...or...so on and so forth. Third, Sha'Carri Richardson, a black female track runner, was disqualified for popping positive for marijuana, a drug that does NOT enhance performance even though she's been killing it. Her Olympic dreams are OVER, for taking something because her mother died and she was hurting and stressed out, not because she violated another human being.

I hope the numbers for the men's volleyball segments tank. I'll watch Simone Biles because...duh, she's Simon Biles...but that's it at this point.

/rant