India’s sports minister Vijay Goel is a lot more in news at the Rio Olympics than perhaps the Indian athletes, who are yet to make an impact.
On Friday, Rio Olympic organisers officially threatened to cancel his accreditation if people accompanying him do not end their “aggressive and rude” behaviour.
As the news spread, Goel was criticised on social media platforms for bringing bad name to the country.
Sarah Peterson, continental manager for Rio Organising Committee, in a letter to Indian chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta wrote: “We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals. 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.”
“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of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister will be cancelled and his privileges withdrawn. We trust you will pass on this message urgently,” the letter said.
Arun Shourie tweeted:
“Rio Olympic organisers have threatened to cancel Vijay Goel’s accreditation”
Why this local goon in Rio in first place at taxpayer expense?
Gargi Rawat wrote:
Embarrassing! When your Sports Minister & staff try their boorish Delhi behavior at the Olympic Games
Santoesha Bissesar writes:
Dear @narendramodi,invest taxpayers money in sportspersons not goons like @VijayGoelBJP. Wth did he do in Rio? Except getting insulted.