Steven van de Velde, a Dutch men’s volleyball player convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016, faced boos during his team’s opening match at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Van de Velde’s past surfaced as he competed among the top two Dutch teams in the international tour. He was met with widespread boos during warmups, and the crowd’s reaction intensified during pre-match introductions.
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Steven van de Velde competes against Italy at the Eiffel Tower Stadium during the Summer Olympics in Paris, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Van de Velde served a 13-month prison sentence for his crime, and his participation raised concerns among others at the Olympics.
“If any athlete or team member had that conviction, they would not be permitted to join our team,” said Anna Mears, head of the Australian delegation, earlier this week. “We have several athletes under 18 and under 16, so our policies are firmly in place to protect our team.”
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Steven van de Velde faces off against Italy at Eiffel Tower Stadium during the Summer Olympics in Paris, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
The Dutch Olympic committee confirmed that he was allowed to compete again following his release. He later termed the incident as the “biggest mistake” of his life.
“I recognize that the approach to the world’s largest sporting event is likely to draw attention from the global media,” he stated on the Netherlands Volleyball Federation’s website. “I cannot change the past, so I must accept its repercussions.”
Steven van de Velde takes a shot in the match against Italy during the Summer Olympics in Paris, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
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In their opening beach volleyball match, Italy triumphed over the Netherlands with a score of 2-1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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