The Dutch Olympic Committee, in consultation with van de Velde and playing partner Matthew Immers, have taken steps to mitigate the impact of his participation by moving him to alternative accommodation away from the Olympic Village and banning him from talking to the media, Chef de Mission Pieter van den Hoogenband told Dutch television on Sunday.

In order to “establish calm” the committee also decided Sunday that Van de Velde would not be allowed to enter the Olympic Athletes Village, Dutch press agency ANP reported. They added that they and the country’s volleyball federation had consulted experts who judged there is “zero chance” of van de Velde reoffending.

Van de Velde was sentenced for three counts of rape of a minor in 2016 by a British court. He served part of his sentence in the UK before he was extradited to the Netherlands, where he was released after serving only one year of his four-year sentence. He began competing in beach volleyball again in 2017. The Dutch Olympic committee said van de Velde met the conditions required to return after a conviction.

Van de Velde's inclusion at the Olympic Games has been an ongoing controversy and has been criticised by several athlete advocacy organisations with calls for the Dutchman to be disqualified. The International Olympic Committee said it played no role in Dutch Volleyball's decision, saying athlete selection is the “sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee”.

Triple Olympic champion and head of the Dutch delegation to the Paris Games, van den Hoogenband, said he was “surprised at the agitation around” the athlete.

"He has been active in international sport and the world of beach volleyball for a long time," van den Hoogenband told broadcaster NOS.

"He has participated in World Cups, European Championships and World Cups, but you see that around the Games it is different. Things are amplified around the Games. We have taken good steps together. All the athletes are dear to me and I try to support them," said the former swimmer.