Rio de Janeiro, Aug 12 (PTI): India's sports minister Vijay Goel today defended the allegations of misbehaviour levelled against his entourage by the Organising Committee stating that nothing of that sort has happened.
Yesterday, Sarah Peterson, who is Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee, in a letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta threatened to cancel Goel's accreditation on grounds of misbehaviour and trying to enter venues with his entourage who don't have valid passes.
"I don't know who wrote the letter and what are his capacities and post. The letter written to Chef-de-Mission (Rakesh Gupta) states that they have some issue from our staff members, regarding misbehavior or access. I don't know any such things and they have not written against me, the letter also does not have anything against the sports minister," Goel said in his defence.
When asked about trying to forcibly enter the hockey arena, Goel said:"The volunteers had taken him to the field of play because otherwise how is he allowed to go? I couldn't have gone on my own. Next time, I had an upgraded pass with me provided by Organising Committee (OC).
"I went to the hockey pitch to cheer up our team only, and it is not a crime. We are here to cheer up our teams only. first they asked to have a pass, so the next time i went there with my pass."
Goel said that he expected certain things to be communicated verbally before taking the matter straightaway to the Chef-de-Mission.
"They should have told things orally, we are not informed anything and they wrote straight away to Chef-de-Mission. Language is also a main problem here, may be there is a misunderstanding because of that.
"There is nothing against the Sports Minister and if it is because of staff, then I don't have any knowledge about it. If they bring things to me than only i can do anything," he said.
Comment on this article
Eric Coelho, Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016In India I can understand that only politicians speak the truth and rest of the Indians are liars. But in RIO he has now proved that even the RIO Organizing committee are also liars. The Indian politicians will make the whole world a liar. This is real democracy.
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amarnath Shetty, Bantwal
Fri, Aug 12 2016May be he will bring one medal by the game called chori chori chupke chupke!!!(if it is included in Olympic).We can have full faith mr Goel that there will be definitely Gold medal>
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Jossey Saldanha, Nashville
Fri, Aug 12 20162016 Olympic Squad is from RSS ...
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Don, Udupi
Fri, Aug 12 2016Brand India. made in india
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Alex, Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016This illiterate doesnt know an Olympic Games or any Games accreditation has specific game, place, venue, area the person is entitled to. Pitch or Field of Play is reserved only for Players, coach and referees, none else.
Furthermore, any complaints against any person of any contingent is sent to the "Chef de mission" and one else. All further actions are taken with intimation to the Chef de mission.
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Ozy, Surathkal
Fri, Aug 12 2016First of all why the Minister should go there and who has paid for his ticket and stay?
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Vincent Rodrigues., Frazer Town,Bangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016This is as usual practice in BJP to deny the allegations leveled against them
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Sudhakar Pai, Katapadi
Fri, Aug 12 2016Count on BJP/Sanghis to be on denial mode when they are caught. They have learnt this tactic from Pakis!
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Jossey Saldanha, Nashville
Fri, Aug 12 2016Another 10th Standard Minister who cannot understand English ...
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Joseph F. Gonsalves, Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016The Olympic committee of India had failed to choose correct athletes to the Rio Olympics.
HAD THEY CHOSE RIGHT ATHLETES INDIA WOULD HAVE SECURED AT LEAST THREE GOLD MEDALS.
1) RAMDEV - GYMNASTICS.
2) SALMAN KHAN - FOR SHOOTING.
3) V. MALLYA, LALIT MODI - 100X200MTRS. RELAY.
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Clifford, Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016Majority of these politicians are self centred and corrupt junglees. Most of them are uneducated or hold Harward type degrees. What else can you expect from them. Modi should sack him for disgracing our country.
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No Nonsense, Udupi
Fri, Aug 12 2016So Mr. Goel, leaving all their work why would Rio organizers are busy spoiling your name there? Do they have any grudge against you? Please don't take your VVIP culture there, it will only work in India.
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Benjamin, Mangalore/USA
Fri, Aug 12 2016Indian Ministers!! Never said they were wrong.. :P
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Neil, Mumbai
Fri, Aug 12 2016Hahaha.. Chala Murari hero banne!!
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Praveen, Kulshekar
Fri, Aug 12 2016Finally India won something.
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SB, Mlore
Fri, Aug 12 2016First of the the alleged misbehaviour was by some people who accompanied Minister Vijay Goel. Not himself. Dongis spreading rumours to please the frustrated lot.
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Amigo , Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016FEKUS NEVER ACCEPT "kelage biddaroo meeshe meele" Brazil jaake NAAK katwake aaya.
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Robert, Mangalore
Fri, Aug 12 2016Typical Bakht and denial comment.
His Excellency Minister admits in the news that he went to the field without a pass and also says nothing was done wrong when wrong was admitted by himself. Later he suggests such wrong doings should be discussed orally so that he is not in news. Hypocrite Minister.
OC will not prepare a letter without evidence of wrong doing.
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