Convicted rapist Steven van de Velde was booed on Sunday as he made his debut at the Paris Olympics in the beach volleyball competition.
Van de Velde, the Dutch athlete who served time in prison for rape, received a mixture of boos and applause when he was introduced before losing his opening match to Italy.Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 following the rape of a 12-year-old girl two years earlier when he was 19.
After serving part of his sentence there, he was transferred to the Netherlands and has been competing in beach volleyball again since 2017. Van de Velde was greeted with only a handful of boos when he first took the sand for warmups, but the hooting was louder for the more formal pre-match introduction. His teammate Matthew Immers -- and all the other players appearing at the Eiffel Tower Stadium so far in the Summer Games -- received nothing but cheers.The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it was satisfied with explanations given by the Netherlands Olympic team regarding the participation of Van de Velde.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said the committee was not totally comfortable with the situation but that"a crime occurred 10 years ago, a great deal of rehabilitation has taken place and strong safeguarding is in place." The Dutch team have taken steps to mitigate the impact of Van de Velde's participation by moving him to alternative accommodation in Paris and not the athletes' village. There has also been a ban imposed on him talking to the media.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trampoline at the 2024 Olympics: Terms, rules, what to know in 2024At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, trampoline is more than a backyard toy. It's a sport. Here's what to know about trampoline rules, terms and more.
Read more »
Dutch beach volleyball pro and convicted child rapist to be isolated at 2024 Olympics amid outcryHis presence at the Paris Olympics has prompted anger from the public, including backlash from human rights groups, per reports.
Read more »
Convicted Child Rapist Steven van de Velde Booed At OlympicsThe Dutch beach volleyball player who raped a 12-year-old when he was 19 has been a divisve figure since qualifying for the Olympics.
Read more »
Olympics surfing: What to know and how to watch at the 2024 Olympics in TahitiSurfing is back at the Olympics in Paris after making its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo three years ago, in a Games with no spectators because of COVID-19…
Read more »
2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony will do something no Olympics has done beforeThe 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony will mark a first in Olympics history.
Read more »
Countdown to the 2024 Olympics: Join us for an exclusive Paris Olympics watch party!A look the latest news in the 2024 Olympic Games.
Read more »