Olympic digest: 'Mortified' Radcliffe apologises, Israel anthem booed

Paula Radcliffe has described herself as "mortified" for wishing luck to a convicted rapist who is competing at the Olympics.

Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde served time in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2014 and has controversially been selected for the Games.

In an interview with LBC, former marathon runner turned pundit Radcliffe said that it was a "tough thing to punish him twice" and that she "wished him the best of luck", drawing parallels with drugs cheats who are given second chances in sport.

However, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, Radcliffe said: "I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn't condemn the rape out loud. I do believe in second chances after serving punishment but think the Olympics should be for those who uphold the ideals (that’s why I poorly brought the doping comparison in)."

In other posts, Radcliffe, who is still the British marathon record holder, said: "I myself am shocked and disappointed at how I expressed this so badly" and "I really apologise for the way I phrased this. The utter condemnation of the crime in my head went without saying but I should have clarified that.

"Instead I poorly jumped to explaining why it would be great to exclude all who betray ideals but legally not possible."

Israel's participation in the Paris Olympics got under way yesterday amid a ring of steel and a chorus of boos at the Parc des Princes.

Over 1,000 French police, including masked counter-terrorist officers, created an additional security barrier prior to the nation’s clash with Mali in their first game in the men’s football competition.

Israel’s national anthem was booed by some sections in the approximately half-full stadium prior to kick-off,