Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde received a mixed reaction from the crowd at the Paris Olympics following his previous conviction for having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Despite the controversy surrounding him, van de Velde and his teammate Matthew Immers lost their opening match against Italy. The decision to shield van de Velde from the media was made by the national Olympic committee and the International Olympic Committee to allow him to focus solely on the game.
Van de Velde, who was convicted in 2016 and served time in prison for the crime, faced boos and applause from the crowd during his match, with the reaction growing louder during the pre-match introduction. The Dutch team was taken aback by the sudden attention on the case after a two-year qualifying period where van de Velde’s record was not an issue. The international Volleyball Federation stated they were unable to prevent the Dutch team from sending van de Velde to the Olympics once he qualified.
Despite the controversy, van de Velde’s teammates and officials emphasized the need to focus on the sport and his athletic abilities rather than his criminal history. The decision not to make van de Velde available to the media was aimed at keeping the focus on the athletic competition and creating an environment where all athletes can perform well. Both Immers and team spokesperson Van Vliet highlighted the importance of moving past van de Velde’s criminal history and focusing on his current character and performance.
The controversy surrounding van de Velde did not disrupt the security measures at the match, and attention was also drawn to the impressive display of Italy’s Adrian Carambula on the court. Carambula’s skilled play overshadowed the background controversy and led to an entertaining match against van de Velde and Immers. Despite facing criticism from some spectators, van de Velde and his team continue to compete in the Olympic Games, with their next match scheduled against Chile. The outcome of subsequent matches would determine their standing in the tournament.
