Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl, won his second match at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, drawing an even harsher reaction from the audience than his first.
Three days after making their Olympic debut to boos mingled with shouts from orange-clad Dutch supporters, Van de Velde and Matthew Immers were roundly jeered after defeating Chile 21-19, 21-16. There were more booing when Van de Velde took almost any shot.
“I was disappointed with the crowd, for sure,” Immers added. “I can no longer do anything about his history. I am here to play with him. … So, yes, I am disappointed with it. But I believe we are mentally strong, and I am strong enough, to get through this together. And that is exactly what we will do.”
READ MORE: Snapchat Introduces New AR Experiences For The 2024 Olympics
After being convicted in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old girl in England, Van de Velde, 29, served 13 months in prison. Although victims’ advocates, MPs, and fans have asked for his exclusion from the Olympics, the IOC has stated that it is powerless to prevent the Netherlands from sending an athlete who qualified in the customary manner.
Van de Velde did not walk through the mixed zone to face the media on Wednesday, as is customary for all athletes. When Immers arrived, Dutch press attache Hans Nieuwenburg instructed journalists, “Sport questions only.”
“He said everything on (Sunday),” Nieuwenburg said after the two lost their first match against Italy.
READ MORE: Comcast NBCU Will Provide A Free Olympics Stream For The Military Community
When asked about the reception, Immers stated that the two had spoken on the court and that they would need to be particularly supportive of each other. When asked if he understood why they received that reception, he replied, “I don’t want to talk about it, if that’s okay.”
“I think what’s in the past is in the past, and we’re here to go for a good result together,” Immers remarked, pointing out that they had Dutch fans cheering for them. “And I’d want to mention that there were a lot of people that supported us, and we’re doing this for them. I really enjoy this sport, and I still enjoy the spectators and those that support us.”
Radiant TV, offering to elevate your entertainment game! Movies, TV series, exclusive interviews, music, and more—download now on various devices, including iPhones, Androids, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and more.
