Van de Velde Booed at Olympic Debut in Paris

Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player and convicted child rapist, faced boos during his Olympic debut in Paris after being jailed for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016. Despite serving only 13 months of a four-year sentence, he was selected for the Dutch team, leading to widespread criticism and mixed reactions from the crowd. His teammate, Matthew Immers, defended van de Velde, stating that he had served his punishment and was now a 'good example'. Dutch officials have taken measures to ensure van de Velde's safety, including keeping him away from the athletes’ village and barring him from media interactions. While some believe he deserves a second chance, others, including rape charities, have condemned his participation in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee acknowledged the situation is uncomfortable but emphasized that van de Velde has undergone significant rehabilitation and qualified to compete legally.