Australian 2024 Paris Olympic Games Press Conference - Source: Getty

Australian chief warns athletes after alleged sexual assault ahead of Paris Olympics, criticises selection of Dutch athlete despite rape conviction

Modified Jul 23, 2024 16:51 GMT

Anna Meares, who is the Chef de Mission for Australia at the Paris Olympics, claimed that the athletes have been 'briefed' about safety protocols at the event after reports of a tourist from the country being sexually assaulted. The incident is said to have occurred in central Paris where thousands of people will be visiting over the next two weeks.

French media have reported that local authorities are looking into an allegation that a 25-year-old woman was raped by five men. The woman is said to have taken refuge in a kebab shop near the Moulin Rouge district on Saturday morning with her dress partially torn off. Authorities have confirmed that they are treating the case as 'gang rape.'

Following the alleged incident, Australian chef de mission Anna Meares has confirmed her athletes have been advised to take extra care if they leave the Olympic Village and not to leave on their own.

"What information we're passing onto our athletes is that security presence is really, really high and that's in order for them to act as quickly as possible to keep them safe," Meares said.

"We don't yet have any feedback from our athletes that they have felt unsafe - we are encouraging them, if they go out of the village, not to go out on their own, not to wear (their) team uniform, just to wear plain clothes.We're just waiting on further information on the actual case itself," she added.

Meares' warning occurs not long after she criticised Netherlands for allowing an athlete to take part in the Olympics despite being convicted of rape. Steven van de Velde, 29, will play in the Dutch beach volleyball team despite pleading guilty to three counts of rape against a child when he was 19. He was sentenced to four years in prison but only served 12 months before resuming his volleyball career.

“If an athlete or staff member had that conviction they would not be allowed to be a member of our team,” Meares said. We have stringent policies on safeguarding within our team.”

According to the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC), De Velde has undergone 'professional counselling' and has met the right criteria to take part in the Olympics. However, he would not be staying in the Olympic Village and has been provided with separate. accommodation, as claimed by Dutch publication NL Times.

Meares, who is a two-time gold medalist in cycling, is in charge of 460 Australian athletes this year - 256 women and 204 men. 231 of these athletes are making their debut, according to figures provided by Fox Sports Australia.