Dutch Olympic chief 'protecting child rapist' as Steven van de Velde met by furious reception

The Dutch Olympics team has admitted that they are 'protecting a child rapist', with Steven van de Velde competing for his nation in the men's beach volleyball event in Paris.

Van de Velde was arrested and convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19 and was sentenced to serve four years in prison. Of that sentence, the Dutch Olympian was released after one year behind bars.

The 29-year-old - who is now married with children of his own - is representing his nation in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in beach volleyball, and featured in Dutch colors on the Olympic stage on Sunday.

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Van de Velde was met with a furious reaction from the Parisian crowd, who booed his entrance onto the court. His inclusion on the team has since been defended by the Dutch Olympic team, with John van Vliet commenting: "We are protecting a convicted child rapist, yes."

"To do his sport as best as possible, at a tournament he qualified for." All Olympians are required to be available for media requests, but special arrangements appear to have been made for Van de Velde amid his past. "Definitely a different situation for Steven has been created," the statement went on.

"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.

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"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.” Amid his absence from the media, Van de Velde's teammate Matthew Immers will be carrying out all post-match duties instead.

Discussing his partner's past, Immers said: "He had his punishment. And now, he’s really kind. For me, that’s a big example that you can grow. What happened in the past, is not good, of course.”

Van de Velde is not staying in the Olympic Village with his other athletes and is instead staying in private accommodation elsewhere. It has however since been revealed by the Dutch setup that the 29-year-old is travelling in and out of the village to take part in team meetings.