Convicted rapist booed at Olympic beach volleyball

A Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of raping an underage girl was booed by fans during his first match at the Paris Olympics, with his controversial selection putting the sport in the spotlight.

Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for the rape of an underage girl.

He entered the center court on Sunday morning with his teammate Matthew Immers to cheers and applause, with many orange-clad Dutch fans standing up and applauding the two.

However, when he was introduced individually over the loudspeaker, loud boos erupted from the crowd.

During the course of the match, there were also occasional boos during his serve.

The player has won the support of his country’s National Olympic Committee and exchanged a warm hug with his teammate Immers before the start of the match.

However, his selection has sparked outrage among women’s and sports safety groups.

Officials said the player would be separated from his teammates, would not be allowed to stay in the athletes’ village and would be prohibited from speaking to the media.

His teammate Immers told reporters after the match that they were “disappointed” with all the attention focused on van de Velde’s earlier conviction, especially after a “tough fight” for qualification.

“I’ve known the guy for two or three years and we’ve played every tournament,” he said.

“What is past is past, and he has received his punishment.”

“For me, this is a great example of growing and learning a lot from it. What happened in the past … that’s obviously not good. But right now we’re trying to enjoy it and move on to the next round,” Immers added.

Ju’Riese Colon, executive director of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, said she was “deeply concerned that someone convicted of sexually abusing minors could compete in the Olympics.”

“When teams from all over the world meet in Paris, including many underage athletes, it sends a dangerous message that medals and money are more important than their safety,” she said. (AFP)