Mismatched: Mary-Kate Olsen, 26, dwarfed by boyfriend Olivier Sarkozy, 42, as they take stroll before getting cosy at NBA game

PUBLISHED: 14:29 EST, 19 November 2012 | UPDATED: 02:53 EST, 20 November 2012

For Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy, it's not just about the 16-year-age gap.

As was made pertinently clear as the couple strolled around New York on Sunday, they are also at odds in the height department with 6ft plus Olivier, 42, towering above his 5ft2, 26-year-old squeeze.

Pint-sized Mary-Kate was spotted with her man in the East Village, and barely reached his shoulder height as she stood beside him in her flat boots, teamed with jeans and a leather jacket.

Long and the short of it: Mary-Kate Olsen and boyfriend Olivier Sarkozy were spotted strolling around New York's East Village on Sunday

Olivier is the taller half-brother of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who stands at just 5ft5 and has been roundly mocked over his height.

On Sunday Mary-Kate and OIivier dined at Quartino Restaurant for lunch before attending a basket ball match, where once again they appeared more interested in each other than the action on court.

The couple put on an affectionate show at the New York Knicks Vs Indiana Pacers game at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Mary-Kate was seen snuggling up to Sarkozy and whispering sweet nothings into his ear.

The match saw the Pacers lose to the Knicks in a 76-88 defeat.

Distracted: The pair put on an affectionate display as they sat courtside at the New York Knicks Vs Indiana Pacers basketball game later on

Last week the couple - who have been dating for nine months - were at Madison Square Garden where they watched the Knicks defeat the Dallas Mavericks.

It seems with the the 2012-13 NBA season now well underway, Mary-Kate and Olivier - are making it their sport of passion.

Meanwhile Sarkozy's ex-wife Charlotte, whom he divorced last year, has branded his relationship with Olsen as 'grotesque'.

But dating older men seems to run in the family for actresses-turned-fashion designer Mary-Kate.

Spectator sport: The couple have been making regular trips to Madison Square Gardens to watch NBA games

Mary-Kate’s twin sister Ashley Olsen was 21 when she dated biking super star Lance Armstrong who was 36 at the time - a 15 year age difference.

Olivier is divorced and has two children with his ex-wife Charlotte, and he is the managing director of the Washington, D.C. based Carlyle Group.

Mary-Kate also has a history of dating high profile men.

She was linked romantically to Heath Ledger before his death and dated Greek shipping heir and Paris Hilton's ex Stavros Niarchos.

Action on the court: New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (L) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers forward Sam Young (C) in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game. The Knicks won the match

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thse sunglasses make her look like some sort of mutant dung beetle...

- rick , atlanta_georgia_way_deep_south, United States, 20/11/2012 10:27

Click to rate Rating 1

Who cares. They're both adults. Get a life people.......

- AnonK , Dublin, 20/11/2012 08:32

Click to rate Rating 39

If you were a 26 year old multi-millionaire owner of your own global corporation....would you want to date the average 26 year old American man? I don't really like the Olsons, but if I were them, I think I would find most men my own age boring too. When I was 26, I married a man 11 years old than me. We have been married 17 years now. I picked him because all the guys my age were selfish, immature and lacking responsibility. Why would anyone want that?

- UmmLulu , Seattle, 20/11/2012 08:21

Click to rate Rating 37

Why should he go for a granny when younger is sweeter.

- Claire , Somewhere in London., 20/11/2012 08:15

Click to rate Rating 5

The age gap is all the more apparent because she is so small and looks so much younger than she actually is. She looks like his teenage daughter.

- Tifany , Alabama, United States, 20/11/2012 04:28

Click to rate Rating 65

he looks older than my dad who is 58! creepy.

- raerenee24 , NJ, United States, 20/11/2012 04:11

Click to rate Rating 36

They are adults...that is what most seem to miss. However, I can't say it doesn't seem a little bit creepy that when she was 10 he was 26...ick!

- seti , Third Rock From The Sun, United Kingdom, 20/11/2012 04:00

Click to rate Rating 22

The only issue is the height thing -- no one cares about Stacy Keibler and George Clooney - and the age gap is about the same. Live and let live. Its not creepy - he's in his early 40s, and she's no spring chicken.

- citykitty , Minneapolis, United States, 20/11/2012 03:59

Click to rate Rating 35

Girls, please fwd this article to every male idiot saying you cannot date for age or height reasons!

- lemonhead , Undisclosed Location, United States, 20/11/2012 03:31

Click to rate Rating 11

Not all is about beauty and age, sometimes people are together for other reasons, such as having a great time together.. I guess Sarko is an well educated man with many interests and vast experiences he can share with Mary-Kate, surely she is not with him for the money and she is not some fake looking girl, so let them be.. even if they dont have the happily ever after ending, we should enjoy present and take all as an experience to learn from.. Actually i like them as a couple- they look so odd together- something different from the couples we normally see in the spotlight..

- Letka Byrboletka , DXB, United Arab Emirates, 20/11/2012 03:05

Click to rate Rating 36

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