Rio Olympics: Indian contingent at war with itself while others focus on training

Rio de  Janeiro: What started as a farcical war of words between Hockey India chief Narender Batra and India Olympic Association (IOA) officials has degenerated to ludicrous depth which has reduced the whole contingent to a butt of joke. Batra is firing all his shots at Chef de Mission Rakesh Mehta for the short comings in the Games Village for which neither Mehta or IOA is responsible. The Games Village here, like in London, Beijing and Athens, has been built modestly and the apartments are meant to be sold after the Games to the people belonging to lower or middle income group. The apartments are not lavish unlike the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi and have been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The apartments does not have ACs in the rooms. There are no televisions in the separate rooms and given the size of each apartment, there is obviously not enough space for chairs and tables. While Australians and few other contingents expressed their unhappiness about the upkeep of the rooms in the Games Village, Batra’s ire is different. He wants televisions, chairs and tables for hockey players. Organisinng committee and the Games Village authorities, expectedly and rightly, rejected the Chef de Mission’s request for providing chairs and TVs as it was not possible but Batra would have none of it. After Chef de Mission succumbed to the pressure brought in by Batra and agreed to part with his TV for the hockey players, others also jumped in to demand same facilities. So while all other contingents are focusing on the training and preparations, Indians in the village are battling for TV sets and chairs in their rooms. Now, to buy peace, it has been decided that chef de mission will buy the TV sets for each floor of the building in which Indians are staying. The shoping will be done by the Indian Embassy in Brazil. But Batra seems to be unimpressed by all these efforts. He again blasted the Chef de mission on his Facebook account. With a photo, he wrote, “Hockey players are assembling 5 Tables and 28 Chairs purchased by them (Not IOA) on 2nd August, in Rio, Shame on You Chef de Mission and other IOA staff on Paid Holiday in Rio. Have the Athletes gone there to assemble tables or win Medals.” As this was not enough, he fired another salvo, “Indian Men Hockey Team in their apartment room on 3rd August, after Hockey India High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans bought 28 Chairs and 5 Tables for both Men and Women Hockey Teams... “Thank You Mr Roelant Oltmans...” Another gem from Batra, “Today at 6:30 pm on 3rd August, I saw the Chef de Mission of India giving interview to Times Now that he has written to Indian Embassy and Organising Committee for Chairs and Tables and his Press In charge of contingent is also giving similar information to PTI to protect his Boss ie The Incompetent Chef de Mission.     “While Chef de Mission Slept and only appeared for photo opportunity, Hockey India High Performance Director and Hockey Athletes went to Market and Purchased 28 Chairs and 5 Tables. Shame on You Chef de Mission of India...” He further went on to say, “Oltmans You have blanket Permission from Hockey India to purchase anything that both men and women Teams may require in Rio. Please do not expect to get any decision from Chef de Mission since he is known for not giving decisions and create more chaos... “Good Luck Teams India and now Focus on your main and important goal...” Can anything be more absurd and disgraceful then this. The washing of dirty linen in the open has severally damaged the reputation of the Indian contingent and made it a laughing stock. In this battle of egos, the country’s name is being tarnished with impunity.