Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde made his Olympic beach volleyball debut in Paris, receiving mixed reactions from the crowd, including audible boos. Sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl, Van de Velde and his partner Matthew Immers, currently ranked 10th in the world, lost 2-1 to Italy’s Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula, ranked 25th, at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.

As they entered the arena, the pair received a combination of cheers and boos, and when Van de Velde was announced individually, the crowd again expressed a mix of applause and disapproval. The Dutch duo is scheduled to play again on July 31 against Chile’s Marco and Esteban Grimalt.

An online petition demanding Van de Velde’s ban from the Olympics garnered 90,000 signatures before his first match, and various women’s and safeguarding groups have criticized his inclusion in the Dutch team. Many fans voiced their opposition, with some arguing that his presence contradicts the spirit of the Olympics, while others suggested that a different athlete should have been chosen.

However, some supporters, including a Dutch fan, argued that Van de Velde deserves a chance to compete since he has served his sentence. Immers defended his partner, stating that they had worked hard to qualify for the Olympics and wanted to enjoy the experience.

Van de Velde is not staying in the Olympic village and will not participate in post-match media. Extra security was provided for him during his arrival in Paris. He has expressed regret over his past actions, referring to them as the biggest mistake of his life.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has clarified that the responsibility for athlete selection lies with individual national committees. Van de Velde returned to play in 2017 after completing a specialist treatment program and meeting guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo). The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) stated that he has fulfilled all necessary assessments and shown no risk of reoffending. They also noted that Van de Velde has been transparent about his past and has sought professional counseling.

Mark Adams, an IOC spokesperson, acknowledged the discomfort surrounding Van de Velde’s inclusion but emphasized that the decision was made by the NOC. Analysis from BBC Sports News correspondent Laura Scott highlighted the significant controversy surrounding Van de Velde’s selection, noting that while some fans were unaware of his past, most international fans expressed strong opposition to his participation, whereas Dutch fans tended to be more supportive or hesitant to discuss the topic.

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