Olympic Beach Volleyball Star Convicted of Child Abuse Faces Public Outrage at First Match

Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player with a controversial past, faced a mixed reception during his introduction at the Paris Olympics. Convicted in 2016 for having sex with a 12-year-old girl, Van de Velde served 13 months in prison across Britain and the Netherlands.

The 29-year-old athlete heard a combination of boos and applause as he warmed up for his opening match. However, the booing intensified during his formal prematch introduction. Van de Velde and his teammate Matthew Immers then faced Italy in a three-set match, which they ultimately lost.

Following the defeat, Van de Velde avoided speaking to reporters, a departure from the longstanding International Olympic Committee (IOC) policy. Immers explained that Van de Velde needed to focus on the game and rest his mind from the surrounding controversy. Dutch team spokesman John van Vliet indicated that the decision to shelter Van de Velde was made by the national Olympic committee and agreed upon with the IOC. He emphasized that their primary goal was allowing Van de Velde to compete despite his criminal record.

During the two-year qualifying period, Van de Velde’s past conviction was not a point of discussion. However, the issue resurfaced after the team secured a high world ranking and an Olympic berth. Van Vliet maintained that Van de Velde had served his sentence and had since been working to reintegrate into competitive sports.

Immers expressed disappointment that the controversy overshadowed his Olympic debut. He emphasized that during their partnership over the last three years, Van de Velde’s past had never been a concern. Immers also declined to comment on Van de Velde’s criminal history, suggesting that the focus should be on their current athletic pursuits.

The International Volleyball Federation stated it had no authority to prevent Van de Velde from competing in Paris, given that he qualified through the standard process. Efforts to shield Van de Velde from media scrutiny aimed to keep the focus on athletic performance. Van Vliet stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment for all athletes to excel.

The match against Italy drew significant attention, mainly due to the play of Italy’s Adrian Carambula. Carambula’s crowd-pleasing Skyball serve and his team’s comeback victory in the first set captivated spectators, shifting focus away from the controversy. Italy eventually won the closely contested match.

Van de Velde is set to compete again on Wednesday against Chile. A second loss could complicate their chances to advance to the knockout stage.