Sports minister Vijay Goel entourage lands in Rio controversy over ‘rude’ entourage

Sports minister Vijay Goel has landed in a controversy after Rio Olympics organisers threatened to cancel his accreditation if people accompanying him did not end their “aggressive and rude” behaviour.

From selfies with pariticipants to clicking snapshots with the women’s hockey team, the minister has been in the thick of things at the event where the Indian contingent has so far failed to win any medal.

“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, told Indian chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta in a letter.

“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of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister will be cancelled and his privileges withdrawn.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,” she said.

For his part, 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.”

This news set Twitter abuzz.

(with agency inputs)