Journalists proceed to ask many questions on the participation of seashore volleyball participant Steven van de Velde

Bpublic sale, completed. Theatrically gesticulating along with his arms, the Italian Alex Ranghieri walks by the combined zone. He is performed with it. Finished with the incessant stream of questions he will get in regards to the opponents he simply defeated within the Olympic seashore volleyball match. He would not wish to say something extra about Matthew Immers and Steven van de Velde specifically. “I solely discuss ball“ he says, earlier than striding towards the exit.

There was little discuss seashore volleyball on Sunday morning after the group match between the Italian and Dutch duo. Nobody requested in regards to the lovely location on the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Or about Adrian Carambula’s placing banana service, which hit the ball meters excessive into the air each time. Or in regards to the course of the match that the Italians had received with two units to at least one.

But there have been dozens of worldwide journalists within the combined zone. People, Britons, French, a Dane, a Finn, a Norwegian and a Brazilian; they had been all there for the person who wouldn’t go: Steven van de Velde.

Van de Velde was sentenced to 4 years in jail in 2016 for having intercourse with an underage lady two years earlier. When it occurred, the seashore volleyball participant was nineteen, the lady twelve. Consequently, it was rape in keeping with the regulation, no matter whether or not the lady had consented or not. Throughout the trial, Van de Velde pleaded responsible.

Van de Velde spent twelve months in a British jail earlier than being transferred to the Netherlands. There, his conviction below Dutch prison regulation was commuted from rape to indecent assault, his sentence was lowered, and he was launched a month later. He has since resumed his seashore volleyball profession. He acquired married two years in the past and is now the daddy of a son.

Measures

A month and a half in the past, Van de Velde and his teammate Immers managed to qualify for the Video games. That was the second that the worldwide press acquired wind of his previous, particularly in the UK. After that, the stress on Van de Velde, the sports activities affiliation NOC-NSF and the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) grew to do one thing in regards to the scenario. As a result of does a convicted intercourse offender belong on the Olympic Video games?

The seashore volleyball participant and NOC-NSF determined in session to take measures to create peace: Van de Velde was accommodated outdoors the Olympic village and is being refrained from the press. NOC-NSF additionally issued a press release during which it states that it “understands the affect for a lot of [betreurt] because of the renewed consideration for the previous” by Van de Velde.

Steven van de Velde (left) and Matthew Immers on Sunday throughout their first group match of the Olympic seashore volleyball match. Photograph Koen van Weel/ANP

However the consideration for Van de Velde continued to develop and NOC-NSF, which regularly struggles with the strategy to delicate points, dug in additional. Chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband expressed his shock in regards to the commotion, as a result of Van de Velde had already participated in World Cup competitions, European Championships and World Championships after 2017. He didn’t appear to have realized that the Video games and the related consideration had been of a distinct order. For all questions he referred to the assertion the NOC-NSF had as an alternative unfold.

Nevertheless, the sports activities affiliation continued to help Van de Velde’s participation; he had met all of the circumstances. The IOC additionally expressed its help, though not wholeheartedly. “To explain it as snug wouldn’t be right,” mentioned a spokesman.

applause

Below these circumstances, Van de Velde made his entrance on Sunday morning along with Immers within the short-term stadium subsequent to the Eiffel Tower. When the duo, wearing blue and orange, enter the sandbox, there’s a little bit of booing. A couple of individuals whistle, and there’s additionally applause. Van de Velde begins serving. When he begins his run-up, there’s a few ‘boos’, however Van de Velde calmly hits the ball over the web, walks ahead and blocks the Italians’ effort. The primary level is in.

A couple of factors later the whistles have disappeared and a pleasant block by Van de Velde leads to applause. Those that entered the stadium a little bit later don’t understand that one of the talked about athletes of the Video games is busy right here. The primary set goes to the Italians, the second is for the Dutch and within the third set the Italian duo decides the match.

Sensible implications

Afterwards, the journalists jostle one another below a tree-lined gallery on the Champs-de-Mars. Dozens of recording units are turned on when Immers seems. He’s the one who’s allowed to reply to the media storm on behalf of the duo.

Immers sighs deeply. “It isn’t good, after all, nevertheless it does make sense in a approach. It occurred prior to now, however it could at all times come up once more.” He hadn’t heard any boos, he says, and he is primarily aggravated by the defeat.

However Immers can not deny that each one the fuss has affected Van de Velde and him. “It was tough to cope with all these questions,” he says. As well as, there are sensible implications, as a result of Immers does sleep within the Olympic village. “We attempt to go to one another outdoors the village as a lot as attainable. To coach, to observe match footage. It will be important that we keep collectively, that we do that collectively.”

Immers and the press officer of ‘TeamNL’ don’t go into the scenario any additional. “We are not looking for the dialogue about Steven’s previous to be held right here subsequent to the stadium,” says the spokesperson.

Regardless of all the things, Immers loved his Olympic debut, he says. “It is nonetheless a dream come true.” He tells how Van de Velde and he cried collectively for 5 minutes after they heard they had been going to Paris. “Steven can also be very pleased about this,” says Immers. “However we actually wish to win one other sport.”

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