Crowds boo convicted child molester Steven van de Velde during his Olympic beach volleyball debut

Dutch child molester Steven van de Velde was booed by the crowd during his beach volleyball debut at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Van de Velde, who was jailed in 2016 for the rape of a 12-year-old British girl, is a controversial figure at this summer’s Games after being sentenced to four years in prison and serving just 12 months of it. The Dutch star arrived in France earlier this week under heavy guard.

When the 29-year-old entered the clay court on the Champs de Mars under the Eiffel Tower, boos rang out from the packed stadium. When he was introduced to the audience on his Olympic debut, he was booed again.

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The Dutchman and his doubles partner Matthew Simmers, 23, will face the Italian Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula with doubles partner Matthew Simmers, 23.

Van de Velde appeared unperturbed by the public accusations, merely removing his dark, white-rimmed sunglasses to wipe sweat from his brow, the Mirror reported.

The Dutchman was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old British girl. However, he only served one year of that sentence before returning to the Netherlands, where he underwent a “special treatment program.”

Van de Velde has since married professional volleyball player Kim Behrens. She also works as a police officer in her home country of Germany and together they have a young son.

The 2024 Olympics will be Van de Velde’s first Olympic appearance. At the time of the offence in 2014, Van de Velde was a rising star who was expected to achieve great things. He had won the Dutch U20 championship and was on track to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

However, after a European arrest warrant was issued against Van de Velde, he was extradited to the United Kingdom in January 2016. The trial took place in March of the same year, where Van de Velde pleaded guilty to three counts of child rape.

Van de Velde’s four-year prison sentence was drastically reduced after he was transferred to the Netherlands. As part of the agreement with Britain, the charges and sentence were brought into line with Dutch law. For example, the charge of rape was changed to “indecency” – a less serious crime. As a result, he was released after just one year.

The Dutch Volleyball Association allowed him to return to action and he has been participating in international tournaments since 2018. The association’s Olympic Committee said the decision was made “after a special treatment program.” It also added: “Van de Velde has fully met all requirements and complied with all strict risk assessment thresholds, controls and due diligence. Experts have stated that there is no risk of relapse.”

“Van de Velde has always acted transparently in this case, which he describes as the biggest misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved.”