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Dutch press attache John van Vliet has admitted Steven van de Velde is being ‘protected’ after the volleyball athlete was booed at the Olympics on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison on three counts of raping a child he had met on Facebook back in 2016.
At the time, Van de Velde was told his career was over. However, he’s since qualified for the Olympics and took part in the games on Saturday alongside volleyball partner Matthew Immers, with the Netherlands losing to Italy.
Fans booed the player, who raised his arm as he walked onto the court in Paris.
Steven Van de Velde: Dutch star is able to play at the Olympics despite being a convicted child rapist
GETTY
Now, Van Vliet has admitted the team are protecting Van de Velde.
“We are protecting a convicted child rapist, yes,” he said, per the Telegraph.
“To do his sport as best as possible, at a tournament he qualified for.”
All athletes are normally required to make themselves available for media duties after competing.
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But a special dispensation has been made for Van de Velde, with Van Vliet confirming he was an exception to the rule amid fears he’d be quizzed on his past.
“Definitely a different situation for Steven has been created,” he said.
“We are very much aware that if we bring Steven out here, it won’t be about sport or his performance.
“There was a time before this, at least 100 tournaments in beach volleyball, where this never came up. He never had to do anything about it.
“So, we wanted to create the environment we are used to and not make it extra-special on a stage which is even bigger for these players.”
Van Vliet also said: “The general matter of sex convictions or sex-related crime is definitely a much bigger issue than sport.
“But in his case, we’ve got a person who has been convicted, who did his sentence, who did everything afterwards that he can do to be able to compete again.”
Immers, Van de Velde’s partner, insists his countryman should be allowed to compete despite a strong backlash.
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Dutch press attache John van Vliet has admitted Steven van de Velde is being ‘protected’ after the volleyball athlete was booed at the Olympics on Saturday.
GETTY
“He had his punishment,” Immers said.
“And now, he’s really kind. For me, that’s a big example that you can grow. What happened in the past, it’s not good, of course.”
When asked whether Van de Velde had ever expressed remorse for his dark past, Immers replied: “No, he doesn’t.
“He doesn’t explain it. We just want to focus on now.”
Steven van de Velde was booed as he played at the Paris Olympics on Saturday
Van de Velde was 19 when he jetted to the UK to meet his victim.
He was swiftly ushered away from the volleyball court on Saturday, with Italy winning by two sets to one in their first match of the competition.
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