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Dutch Olympic beach volleyball player, who was convicted of raping young girl, faces boos before match

July 28, 2024

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A Dutch men’s volleyball player who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016 was booed during the team’s opening match at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

Steven van de Velde’s record rose again when he qualified as one of the top two for the Dutch team on the international tour. He was booed multiple times as he stood on the sand to warm up, but the reaction from the Paris crowd was even louder during the pre-match introductions.

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Steven van de Velde will play against Italy at the Eiffel Tower Stadium at the Paris Summer Olympics on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Van de Velde is serving a 13-month prison sentence for having sex with a 12-year-old girl and his participation in the Olympics has drawn criticism from others.

“If a player or staff member has such a conviction they will not be allowed to be part of the team,” Australia’s head of mission Anna Mears said early last week. “With a large number of players under 18 and under 16, these policies are in place to keep our team safe.”

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Steven van de Velde plays against Italy at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

The Dutch Olympic Committee said he was able to return to competition after his release. He called the incident “the biggest mistake of my life.”

“I understand that this may attract international media attention with the biggest sporting event in the world approaching,” he said in a statement on the Dutch Volleyball Federation’s website. “This decision cannot be reversed and I must accept the consequences.”