Van de Velde was booed and jeered while competing at the Games. Dutch Olympic officials went to lengths to protect him from the press during the event.
He has now opened up to Dutch publication NOS about his experience, admitting that while he anticipated backlash, the intensity of it took him by surprise. "I definitely had a moment of breaking down, both before the tournament and during it. But I thought ‘I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get me away’.
I’d tell them to get help from a professional.
People can’t choose who they’re attracted to, but they are responsible if they ever act on it.
If society wants to truly protect children, we need to ensure paedos don’t become abusers/rapists. That means creating an atmosphere where people can feel more comfortable going to get the help they need.
Yes, precisely. Thank you. This is a charged topic and because it’s so culturally brittle, I feel we must be more willing to have these discussions. Even if there is never a good time nor place to do so.