Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player, faced a wave of boos and jeers from the crowd during the Netherlands' first match at the Paris Olympics. The incident was captured in footage shared on social media as van de Velde and his partner, Matthew Immers, entered the arena at the base of the Eiffel Tower. The Dutch duo was ultimately defeated by the Italian team of Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula.
Van de Velde's participation in the Olympics has stirred controversy due to his criminal history. He was convicted and served four years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2014. Despite being released in 2017 and now being 29 years old, his past actions continue to haunt him.
The Dutch National Olympic Committee faced backlash for selecting van de Velde, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the decision, citing his extensive rehabilitation efforts. Immers, van de Velde's teammate, stood by him, emphasizing that people can change and learn from their past mistakes.
Ju'Riese Colon, CEO for the US Center for SafeSport, expressed deep concern over van de Velde's participation in the 2024 Olympic Games, stating that allowing individuals convicted of sexually assaulting minors to compete sends a dangerous message. Colon emphasized that participation in sports is a privilege that should not overshadow the safety and well-being of minor athletes.
