Rapist booed
Dutch beach volleyball rapist Steven van de Velde booed as disgraced athlete makes Paris 2024 Olympic debut
Paula Radcliffe shockingly said she wished him the “best of luck”
DUTCH athlete Steven van de Velde has been booed by fans before making his Olympics debut.
Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19.
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The 29-year-old is representing the Netherlands in beach volleyball in Paris alongside 23-year-old doubles partner Matthew Immers.
As he entered the court for the opening match against Italy on Sunday, which they lost, he was greeted by some boos and applause as his name was called out by the stadium announcer at Champs de Mars park.
Van de Velde, who was named in the Dutch team in June after serving 12 months of his sentence, was BANISHED from the Paris Olympics athletes' village amid the outrage over his inclusion.
Team boss Pieter van den Hoogenband said "measures" had been taken to facilitate Van de Velde's participation, such as keeping him away from the other athletes and media at the Games.
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When he arrived in Paris by train he was flagged by a huge security team as they walked him to his alternative hotel room in the capital.
The Dutch Olympic committee had told world volleyball he had shown "self-insight and reflection" and claimed he has consistently met their high standards, fully engaged with their requirements to compete and remained transparent throughout the last 10 years.
In protest against his inclusion, 81,000 people signed a petition calling for all known sex offenders to be banned from the Olympics indefinitely.
Fans and human rights groups have labelled the move a "shameful appointment" to allow him to compete.
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Even the International Olympic Committee has sought to distance themselves from the controversial athlete.
Seemingly referencing the Dutchman, they said: "The nomination of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee."
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BBC pundit and Olympian Paula Radcliffe shockingly said she wished him the “best of luck” because he’d turned his life around and is married.
But she swiftly apologised after criticism.
Olympics is about role models…not a man who raped a 12-year-old
By Jane Atkinson
HOW the hell can it be that among those athletes at Paris 2024 is a man who raped a 12-year-old child in Britain just eight years ago?
Beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde was 19 when he contacted the girl on Facebook, travelled to Milton Keynes from the Netherlands in 2014, plied her with alcohol and raped her.
He had full knowledge of her age and heartbreakingly only stopped when she complained she was in pain.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of child rape and was sentenced to four years at Aylesbury Crown Court in 2016.
Van de Velde served 12 months in a UK prison, before being transferred to his home country where he was released after a further month.
Since then that poor girl — who has only just left her teens — has self-harmed and overdosed on drugs.
But he is allowed to represent his country.
What an absolute disgrace.
The National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands says he has served his sentence and completed an extensive rehabilitation programme, while experts had concluded there was now no risk of this man reoffending.
The country’s blinkered team boss,
Pieter van den Hoogenband, says he’s “surprised by the fuss” over the child rapist, who will be competing today, saying “measures” have been taken including housing him away from the athletes’ village.
Which is probably the only responsible thing he’s done because there is no age limit at the Olympics and there is one young girl there who is just 11.
Van de Velde’s volleyball partner Matthew Immers described him as “like a second father” who he feels “comfortable” with.
Read the full story here.
Doubles partner Immers described him as “like a second father” who he feels “comfortable” with.
Van de Velde and Immers were beaten 2-1 on sets by Italy pair Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich.
Immers later defended his partner, saying: "
“I think Steven is a really good example from who he is right now.
“What is in the past is in the past. He had his punishment and now he’s really kind.
“For me that’s a big example that he learned a lot. Of course, what happened in the past is not good.”
Immers also hit out at the attention Van De Velde’s case has generated.
He added: “We’re disappointed that it’s so big because we fought two years really hard to qualify for this.
“But we’re ready to fight and enjoy the Olympics.”
They will be back in action on July 31 when they take on Chile duo Marco and Esteban Grimalt for their second match in the men's preliminary phase pool B game.
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Their third and potentially final match will be against Norway pair Anders Berntsen Mol and Christian Sandlie Soerum on August 2.
The medal events for the men's beach volleyball will be played on August 10.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
THE PARIS 2024 Olympics started with a stunning Opening Ceremony - and now the Games really do begin.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a thrilling first full day.
Adam Peaty will be the headline act for Team GB as he goes for gold in the final of the 100m breaststroke (8.50pm).
A lot of eyes will also be on LeBron James, Stephen Curry and the Team USA men's basketball team, who start their campaign against Nikola Jokic and Serbia (11.15am ET / 4.15pm BST).
There are not expected to be too many other British medal tilts on Sunday, but the women's gymnastics team (all day) are going through qualification as are the rowing teams (from 8am).
The both the men's (vs South Africa, 7.15pm) and women's hockey teams (vs Spain 12.15pm) are both in action.
American swimming stars Carson Foster and Tori Huske are among a multitude of stars joining Adam Peaty in the pool from around 7pm BST / 2pm ET.
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