Sports minister Vijay Goel rude behaviour and unaccredited people accompanying him ,lands him in controversy at Rio

Rio de Janeiro August 12 Union Sports minister Vijay Goel, who is currently in Rio de Janeiro to cheer for the Indian contingent, found himself in the midst of a controversy on Thursday after Rio Olympic organisers threatened to cancel his accreditation if unaccredited people accompanying him do not end their “aggressive and rude” behaviour.

However, the minister defended himself that he had not flouted any rule and the volunteers had taken him to the field.

“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, who is Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee, said in a letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta.

Goel is here to cheer for the Indian contingent besides monitoring their requirements at the Games Village.

“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of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister for Sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn.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.

“After the India-Japan match, the minister was invited by the team to interact with the players. He went down to the field of play inadvertently and not knowing that he needed a field of play special pass. However the moment it was brought to his notice, he left the field and met the players outside,” Chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta said.

“On another occasion, he took the special pass and only then met the players. It is unfortunate that a non issue is being made an issue without any reason,” Gupta added.

Goel, on his part, said he had not gone to the field of play on his own but taken there by the volunteers.

“The volunteers had taken me to the field of play, otherwise how am I allowed to go. I couldn’t have gone on my own. Next time I will have an upgraded pass, to be provided by Organising Committee,” said the Minister.

To my knowledge, we have been following all rules & regulations. We are committed to the spirit of Olympics & back our Indian players. (1/2)

— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) August 11, 2016

There seems to be some misunderstanding as we have followed all protocols as advised by the organizers. ( 2/2 )

— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) August 11, 2016

“I am not flouting any rules. The allegations are against my staff and not me, I will look into which staff is responsible. There is some misunderstanding by the IOC. I haven’t crossed the line be it in boxing, hockey or any other sport that i attended. I have an all access card,” Goel concluded.
Vijay Goel is accompanied by his wife who is also watching all the events at Rio Olympics with him. He will be leaving for India a day after.
Goel was also spotted during boxer Manoj Kumar’s winning bout against Lithuanian Evaldas Petrauskas. He also clicked a selfie with the boxer right after the winning, before he could go to address the media and undergo a dope test.