Olympic beach volleyball: Benesh and Partain topped by powerful Cuban duo

Steven Van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted in 2016 of having sex with a 12-year-old girl in England, will play on Sunday.

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PARIS — Beach volleyball matches began Saturday with a party atmosphere that poked out between the clouds of a rainy first day at the 2024 Olympics’ iconic venue under the Eiffel Tower.

The weather was unable to slow down the men’s tournament favorites from Sweden, David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig, who beat Australia’s Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher,  21-14, 21-19, or Cuba’s duo of Noslen Diaz Amaro and Jorge Luis Alayo Moliner who beat Americans Miles Partain and Andy Benesh of Rancho Palos Verdes, 21-18, 21-18.

Fans stomped their feet and cheered along as the strains of a Parisian accordion wafted over the soggy sand. An emcee worked to keep the crowd active as fans huddled under their ponchos and raincoats in what, on a sunny day, would be the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Clear skies are expected Sunday, along with the controversial appearance of Steven Van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted in 2016 of having sex with a 12-year-old girl in England.

Van de Velde’s presence in Paris has drawn negative attention to the sport. Advocates for rape victims and some Olympics officials have said he should have been left at home.

“If an athlete or a staff member had that conviction, they wouldn’t be allowed to be a member of our team,” the head of Australia’s delegation, Anna Meares, said this week. “We do have a number of athletes under 18 and under 16 and so those policies are well in action for safeguarding of our team.”

Now 29, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of raping a girl he reportedly got to know online. He served 13 months in prison before returning to the sport.

“We’re just focused on doing our best against the teams in front of us,” Partain said after his Olympic debut on Saturday.