Controversial Beach Volleyball Match at Paris Olympics

PARIS, France — Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who previously served prison time for a sex crime, received a mixed reaction from the crowd at the Paris Olympics after losing his opening match to Italy.

Van de Velde, alongside teammate Matthew Immers, lost in three sets and chose not to speak to reporters post-match, breaking IOC protocol. Immers stated that Van de Velde was focusing on the game and didn’t notice the crowd’s reaction.

John van Vliet, a spokesperson for the Dutch team, explained that shielding Van de Velde from the media was a decision by the national Olympic committee, backed by the IOC. “We are protecting a convicted child rapist to do his sport as best as possible and for a tournament which he qualified for,” he commented.

Van de Velde’s conviction dates back to 2016 for having sex with a 12-year-old girl in England, resulting in a 13-month prison sentence served in both Britain and the Netherlands. During the qualifying period, his criminal record did not impact the team’s standing, allowing them to secure an Olympic berth.

The introduction of Van de Velde was met with boos, a stark contrast to the applause received by other athletes at the Summer Games. Despite the crowd’s reaction, the match proceeded without any further protests on a sunny day at the iconic venue near the Eiffel Tower.

Immers expressed his disappointment that Van de Velde’s past overshadowed their Olympic debut. He emphasized that this had never been an issue in their previous tournaments. The International Volleyball Federation stated it could not prevent Van de Velde from competing after he qualified legitimately.

Van Vliet noted that their focus remains on the athletic performance rather than Van de Velde’s past. Immers, refraining from judgment on Van de Velde’s history, said, “What is in the past is in the past.”

During the match, the crowd was more entertained by Italy’s Adrian Carambula, who showcased his signature Skyball serve. The Italian duo rallied to win the first set and eventually triumphed in the third, despite a close contest.

Van de Velde’s next match is against Chile on Wednesday, where another loss would complicate their path to the knockout round.