Responding to the serious allegations levelled by the Rio Olympics Organisers over his unaccredited companions trying to enter accredited areas at venues and showing “aggressive and rude” behaviour, Sports Minister(MoS) Vijay Goel has said that they have followed all protocols.
He took to Twitter to comment on the issue:
According to an ANI report, Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta has confirmed that the reports of Goel’s accreditation being cancelled were false.
Earlier, Rio Olympic organisers had threatened to cancel his accreditation over the issue.
Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising committee, Sarah Peterson had written a letter to Gupta alleging breach of protocol by the Sports Minister.
“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,” wrote Peterson
“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,” she added.
Peterson said the Minister’s accreditation could be cancelled because of this.
“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of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister for Sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn. We trust you will pass on this message urgently,” she said.
Goel is in Rio to cheer for the Indian contingent besides monitoring their requirements at the Games Village.