Convicted child molester and volleyball player Steven van de Velde was booed by the crowd at the Olympic Games

July 28, 2024, 1:18 p.m. | Updated: July 28, 2024, 1:23 p.m.

Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde was booed by the crowd during his Olympic beach volleyball debut in Paris.

In 2016, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting three counts of rape of a 12-year-old British girl.

He flew to England to meet her in 2014, even though he had contacted her via Facebook and knew how old she was.

He played at the Eiffel Tower Stadium alongside his partner Matthew Immers; the duo is ranked 10th in the world.

However, they lost 1-2 against the Italians Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula, who are ranked 25th.

As the couple was introduced to the crowd and left the hall, cheers and applause were accompanied by loud boos.

All players shook hands before and after the game.

The Dutch pair will next face Chileans Marco and Esteban Grimalt on July 31 at 15:00 (CEST).

Even before his first game, 90,000 people had signed an online petition calling for the 29-year-old Van de Velde to be excluded from the Olympic Games.

There are also calls for an investigation into Van de Velde’s participation in the Olympic Games, as well as for mandatory training on consent forms for athletes and education on healthy sexual relationships for young players in sports academies.

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Women’s and child protection groups have criticized his inclusion in the Dutch team, arguing that sports associations would be sending a dangerous message to rapists and causing “collateral damage” to victims of sexual abuse.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that the selection of athletes for the Games was the responsibility of individual committees.

Van de Velde resumed his active playing career in 2017 and the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) stated that he had met the guidelines set by the Dutch Volleyball Association (NeVoBo) for the continued participation of athletes after a conviction.

The NOC said Van de Velde had returned to the field “after a special treatment program.”

It continues: “Van de Velde has fully complied with all requirements and adhered to all strict risk assessment thresholds, controls and due diligence obligations.”

“Experts have stated that there is no risk of relapse.”

The athlete has always spoken openly about the case, which he describes as the biggest mistake of his life.

He said he deeply regretted the consequences of his actions for those involved.

On Saturday, IOC spokesman Mark Adams was asked whether the organization was “satisfied” with Van de Velde’s inclusion.

He said: “To describe it as comfortable and happy would not be accurate.

“We believe the NOC has explained its decision.

“Comfortable and happy, call it what you want, but the statement they gave us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is.”

When Van de Velde was sentenced, Judge Sheridan told him: “Before you came to this country, you trained as a potential Olympian.”

“Your hopes of representing your country are now a shattered dream.”

The court also heard that his victim had self-harmed and taken an overdose.

The Dutch Olympic Committee selected Van de Velde on the grounds that he had served his sentence and completed a comprehensive rehabilitation program and, after consultation with experts, there was no risk of reoffending.