PARIS, France (AFP) — Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van der Velde faced a wave of boos from fans during his first Olympic match in Paris, spotlighting his controversial selection. Van der Velde, now 29, was convicted in 2016 for raping an underage girl and served a four-year prison sentence.
On Sunday morning, van der Velde and his teammate, Matthew Immers, received cheers and applause from many Dutch fans. However, when van der Velde was introduced individually, the crowd responded with boos, which continued sporadically throughout the match.
Despite the support of the Dutch Olympic Committee and a warm embrace from Immers, van der Velde’s selection has sparked outrage from women’s and sports safety groups. Officials have implemented measures to separate him from his teammates, restrict his access to the athletes’ village, and prevent him from speaking to the media.
Immers expressed disappointment over the focus on van der Velde’s past conviction, emphasizing their efforts to qualify for the Olympics. “What’s bygones is bygones and he’s taken his punishment,” Immers said, highlighting his personal growth from the experience.
Juliece Colon, CEO of the US-based Centre for SafeSport, voiced concerns about allowing someone with such a conviction to participate in the Olympics. “This sends a dangerous message that medals and prize money are prioritized over athlete safety,” she said.
Van der Velde, who served part of his sentence in Britain before being deported to the Netherlands, resumed playing volleyball in 2017. His inclusion in the national team for Paris has intensified scrutiny on the sport.
Sarah Alaoui, founder of the Netherlands-based NGO Safe Space Club, criticized the Dutch volleyball federation, stating, “There is a significant difference between a second chance and representing your country at the Olympics.”
Van der Velde and Immers lost their match to the Italian pair Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Laurich in a closely contested three-set game, with the Italians winning the deciding point 15-13. The Dutch pair will next face Chile on Wednesday.
