A Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison for having sex with a 12-year-old girl competed in his first match at the Olympics on Sunday, to a mixed response at the Eiffel Tower Stadium. Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of the rape in 2016, and his playing partner, Matthew Immers, lost their opening match to Italy. Then Immers faced the press alone, a break from traditional International Olympic Committee (IOC) policy. After the match, Dutch team spokesman John van Vliet was asked if van de Velde not speaking to the press was an effort to protect a convicted child rapist. “…
