A cloud of controversy over the upcoming Beach Volleyball World Championships – set to be held in Adelaide next month – has lifted after convicted child rapist and Dutch Olympian Steven van de Velde was banned from entering the country yesterday .

Local event organiser and Beach Volleyball World Championships Adelaide 2025 CEO Jenny Mann told InDaily her team “tried not to be distracted, but we’ve also sympathised with the community and the concerns that have been raised, because it’s quite a troubling issue”.

Dutch beach volleyball player van de Velde was banned from entering Australia following a South Australian government campaign urging the federal government to reject his visa application.

The sportsman was convicted of child rape in 2016, having raped a 12-year-old British

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