IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING, SAYS GOEL

SPORTS MINISTER WARNED BY OLYMPIC ORGANISERS OVER ‘RUDE’ ENTOURAGE

RIO DE JANEIRO: Miffed with Indian sports minister Vijay Goel’s entourage, Rio Olympic organisers have threatened to cancel his accreditation if unaccredited people accompanying him do not end their “aggressive and rude” behaviour.

“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,” Sarah Peterson, continental manager for Rio Organising Committee, said in a letter to Indian chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta. “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.” 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of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister will be cancelled and his privileges withdrawn. We trust you will pass on this message urgently,” she said.

Gupta issued a statement saying, “Whenever the Minister has visited the field of play at any venue, he has done so with a special pass. It is unfortunate that a non-issue is being made an issue without any reason.”