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, 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 (Thursday) 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of behaviour, the accreditation of your minister for sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn.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.
Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta later issued a statement saying, "It is unfortunate that a non-issue is being made an issue without any reason."
Here is the full text of his statement
At the completion of the India-Japan game when India did well, the minister was invited by the team to interact with the players. He went down to the field with the volunteers of the Organising Committee and met the players.
However the moment it 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.
It is unfortunate that a non-issue is being made an issue without any reason.
