Convicted sex offender van de Velde breaks his silence
Steven van de Velde's Olympic Participation Sparks Controversy and Criticism in Paris. In an interview, the convicted beach volleyball player speaks for the first time about the protests and his participation in the Games.
Controversial Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde nearly left the Olympics in Paris due to public outrage over his participation. While he expected protests, the magnitude surprised him, he told Dutch broadcaster NOS. "It's not easy to face all this." Yet, he stayed. "I won't let others dictate my actions."
He also understood the criticism. "I know this will impact the rest of my life. I must accept that, as I made a mistake." But he's not the same teenager anymore. Van de Velde is married and has a two-year-old son.
The 30-year-old spoke in The Hague for the first time since the Olympics about his controversial participation. Eight years ago, he was convicted in England for sexually abusing a girl. Van de Velde was 19 when he had sex with the then 12-year-old in 2014. He was heavily booed in Paris and was eliminated in the quarterfinals with his partner.
He found protests targeting his family went too far. "Go after me, but leave my family alone. That's too much." He will now carefully consider his sporting future. "My son's future is more important than my career."
Despite the controversy surrounding his involvement in sports due to past convictions, Steven van de Velde remained determined to participate in the Olympics. Reportedly, he expressed concern over the extended condemnation extending to his family, stating, "Go after me, but leave my family alone."
