Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison for rape, received a mixture of boos and applause when he was introduced before his opening match on Sunday at the Paris Games.
Van de Velde was greeted with only a handful of boos when he first took the sand for warmups, but the hooting was louder for the more formal pre-match introduction. His teammate Matthew Immers – and all the other players appearing at the Eiffel Tower Stadium so far in the Summer Games – received nothing but cheers.
He raped a 12 year old girl and served 1 year in prison before his country rescued him and set him free.
What an ambarassment for my country. I thought surely if they let him play it must have been some Russian sham trial but no it was in England.
Why is this fuck allowed to show up and represent the Netherlands? Gross.
The USA has a rapist running for president.
He’s also a convicted felon.
Also gross.
As an American I’m mortified about that as well.
Most people hold the Netherlands to a higher standard. It’s like the “at least we’re not Alabama” of international politics.
Running? He was a rapist when he was president, too. For 4 years.
Like if there was nobody else in the whole country that isn’t a convicted child rapist
I haven’t been convicted!
no, wait
Officers! This guy. This guy right here!
He needs a detail while running for office.
I’m so embarrassed for my countrymen as well, is this really how we want to be represented?
And then lost. Could have just left him at home and saved a lot of trouble.
A volleyball player, a rapist, and a paedophile walk into a bar.
“Get out of my bar, Steven van de Velde” says the barman.
Glad he is booed.
Of course he is allowed.
