Goel gets knockout warning

Rohit Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Rio de Janeiro, August 11

The Rio Olympics organising committee has threatened to withdraw Indian Sports Minister Vijay Goel’s accreditation over alleged “rude and aggressive behaviour” of the “people” with him at the Olympic venues.

“We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals,” Sarah Peterson, Continental Manager for the Organising Committee, wrote in a letter to Indian chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta.

“When the staff try to explain that this is not allowed, they report that the people with the minister have become aggressive and rude and sometimes push past our staff. As you can understand, this type of behaviour is not acceptable. Despite previous warnings, it would seem that even today the same incident occurred at the Rio Olympic Arena (Gymnastics venue) and Carioca Arena 3.”

“Should our protocol team be made aware of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister for Sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn,” the letter added.

Gupta did not deny the allegation of the rude behaviour of “people” accompanying Goel. He did confirm that Goel met the Indian women's hockey team players, on the invitation of the team.

Gupta said in a statement: “Goel went down to the field with the volunteers of the Organising Committee and met the players. However the moment it (the transgression) was brought to his notice, he left the field and met the players outside. Since then, whenever the minister has visited the field of play at any venue, he has done so with a special pass.”

This controversy adds to the woes of the Indian contingent, which has failed to win a single medal until now. The officials of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and different sports associations privately regret this incident, saying that this adds to the list of India's notoriety.