Beach Volleyball: Convicted rapist Steven Van der Velde booed
Spectators jeered at a Dutch beach volleyball player who had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor, as he competed in his debut match at the Paris Olympics. This unexpected choice caused a stir in the sport, garnering attention from the public eye.
Steven Van der Velde, who is currently 29 years old, was found guilty in 2016 of sexually assaulting a young girl and was given a four-year jail term. He appeared in the main arena on Sunday morning alongside his partner Matthew Immers, and they were greeted with cheers and applause. Numerous Dutch fans dressed in orange stood up to applaud the duo.
But when Van der Velde's name was announced over the loudspeaker, the crowd booed loudly. Despite the negative reaction, the player has the backing of his country's Olympic committee and shared a hug with teammate Immers before the game started.
The decision to include Van der Velde in the national team for the Paris Games has caused anger among women's rights and sports safety organizations. In response, officials have chosen to keep him away from his fellow teammates, have him stay outside of the athletes' housing, and prohibit him from talking to the press. Van der Velde spent some time in prison in Britain before being transferred to the Netherlands, where he was eventually set free and returned to playing volleyball in 2017. His return to the national team has brought attention to the sport and raised concerns about the selection process.
During the IOC's press briefing on Sunday, Mark Adams avoided taking responsibility by pointing the blame towards the Dutch national Olympic committee.
"They have decided to select the player and have provided a comprehensive explanation of the additional safety precautions being implemented. It seems that he will not be residing in the Olympic Village."
"I'm not trying to make excuses, but I think this incident happened a long time ago and, as a rule, we should consider the chance for someone to change. It's up to the Dutch NOC to decide, and they have made the necessary decisions," Adams explained.
The CEO of the US-based Center for SafeSport, Ju'Riese Colon, shared her worries about allowing individuals convicted of sexually assaulting minors to compete in the Olympics. She expressed her concern that this could send a harmful message that prioritizes success and wealth over the safety of young athletes, especially with teams from various countries gathering in Paris for the event.
Van der Velde and Immers competed against the Italian duo Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich in the initial phase of the tournament.
