Controversial History Shadows Dutch Volleyball Player at Paris Olympics

Steven van de Velde, Dutch beach volleyball player with a criminal past, faces harsh crowd reactions at the Paris Olympics. Despite boos, Van de Velde and teammate Matthew Immers stay mentally strong and aim for good results. Calls for Van de Velde's ban have been rejected by the IOC.

Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player, has faced vociferous crowd reactions at the Paris Olympics due to his criminal history. Van de Velde, who had previously served 13 months in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl in England, lost his second match and was largely jeered by the audience.

Three days after their Olympic debut, which featured mixed cheers and boos, Van de Velde and his teammate, Matthew Immers, suffered another defeat, this time to Chile with scores of 21-19, 21-16. Immers expressed disappointment with the crowd's reaction, stating he couldn't change Van de Velde's past but emphasized their mental resilience.

Despite calls for his ban, the International Olympic Committee has stated it cannot prevent qualified athletes from participating. Van de Velde avoided the media, as Immers highlighted their focus on support and sport. They acknowledge cheers from Dutch fans amid the controversy.