Van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a British 12-year-old girl, will not bunk with his fellow athletes in the French capital. Initially handed a four-year prison term in 2016 for the crime, the volleyball player only spent one year behind bars before being released on parole. This early release allowed him to return to his sport and eventually reclaim a spot in the Olympic limelight.
However, he's now decided to stay separately from the Dutch team in Paris , as reported by German news outlet BILD. Van de Velde has opted for private accommodation away from the Olympic Village.
This move comes directly from Van de Velde himself, who has chosen to avoid the shared living quarters. Additionally, he plans to shun the press due to the intense scrutiny and criticism over his inclusion in the games.
The incident that led to his conviction occurred in 2014 when Van de Velde, then 19, traveled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes to meet a 12-year-old girl he had connected with on Facebook. He meticulously planned the encounter for a time when her mother would be absent, subsequently engaging in sexual activity with the child.
At his sentencing, Judge Francis Sheridan remarked on the irreversible impact of Van de Velde's actions, noting: "Your actions have wrecked your life and you could, had you never come to England and committed these offenses, have been a leader in your sport.
"A young, naive, foolish child had formed the view that you loved her. In reality, you only knew her on the internet, had never met her before and were fully aware of the age difference." Van de Vende's involvement has sparked outrage, and he is expected to face a hostile crowd when the games kick off.
However, the Dutch Olympic committee has stated: "NOC*NSF have come to these measures after discussions with the beach volleyballer and his teammates. Several other measures relate to, among other things, the supervision of beach volleyball players. In the interests of the people involved, no further announcements will be made about this.
"With this, the NOC*NSF hopes to contribute to a sense of calm for the participants at the Games. NOC*NSF regrets the impact of the unforeseen renewed attention for everyone who suffers from trauma due to sexual offences and inappropriate behaviour."
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