Loud public booing over Olympic participation of athlete convicted of raping 12-year-old girl

During his debut in 2024 Olympic Games in ParisDutch athlete Stephen van de Velde He was greeted with boos from fans, and his participation is controversial given his criminal past. Beach volleyballwho was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19.

Van de Velde, 29, represents the Netherlands with his partner Matthew Immers, 23. The outcry over his inclusion in the team led to him being excluded from the Olympic Games athletes’ village. Peter van den HoogenbandHis team chief said “measures” had been taken to ensure Van de Velde’s participation, such as keeping him away from other athletes and the media. “We know Stephen’s story. He was found guilty under English law and served his sentence.”sought to reduce boiling Michel EveraertSecretary General of the Dutch Volleyball Federation.

The controversy intensified when it emerged that Van de Velde had served only 13 months of his sentence in his home country and that he had undergone an extensive rehabilitation programme, according to the Dutch Olympic Committee. However, “fans and human rights groups have called the decision a ‘disgraceful appointment’,” he said. Sun. In protest, 81,000 people have signed a petition calling for known sex offenders to be banned from the Olympics indefinitely..

The atmosphere did not improve in the opening match against Italy, when Van de Velde and Immers lost 2-1 in straight sets to Italian pair Alex Rangieri and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich. “I think Steven is a very good example of what he is now. “What’s in the past is in the past,” Matthew Immers said in defense of his teammate. “He took the punishment and now he’s really good. For me, it’s a great example of how he learns a lot. Of course, what happened in the past is wrong,” he added.

The controversy also reached popular BBC commentator and Olympic champion Paula Radcliffe, who initially wished Van de Velde “good luck”, claiming he had changed and was now married. However, after receiving criticism, Radcliffe was forced to publicly apologise.

To avoid further controversy, Van de Velde was accompanied by a large security team upon his arrival in Paris and was placed in an alternative hotel, away from the athletes’ village. But once on the pitch, the crowd expressed displeasure at his presence.