Sports Minister Vijay Goel has made himself a subject of a ridicule, not only at the Rio Olympics 2016, but also in India, for allegations of misconduct at the games. Not only that, Goel has also been on a selfies and photos clicking spree, whether it is with an obviously exhausted boxer Vikas Krishan, or the group photo after the women’s hockey team match. Goel and his entourage have been accused of entering areas that off bounds. Sarah Peterson, continental manager of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee has even threatened to cancel the Sports Minister’s accreditation, adding that people accompanying Goel are rude, aggressive and push around the staff.
Opposition parties like AAP and Congress have lashed out at the Modi government for Goel’s behaviour, and demanded that he should be flown back to India immediately. The reaction on Twitter has been similar, with many people expressing disgust and slamming Goel for bringing ‘shame’ to the country. Some people have tweeted witty and humourous takes on Goel’s misconduct. Here are a few that will leave you in splits:
Hello @SushmaSwaraj ji , my friend @VijayGoelBJP has got stuck in a stadium in Rio. Please airlift him and dump into a sea nearby. Tnx.
— Rofl Gandhi Olympian (@RoflGandhi_) August 12, 2016
Thank you Sports Minister Vijay Goel for taking a leaf out of my book and looking desperate to be shot (by camera). pic.twitter.com/tFmvVKrFmK
— Narendra Modi (@alolnath) August 12, 2016
I’m waiting for India to get a medal.
Third place? Nice. Second place? Super.
But, tell me, why is Vijay Goel in Brazil in the first place?— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) August 11, 2016
mulk mein, ya gair-mulk mein
wo na aayenge harkaton se baaz
isi se to hai unki pehchaan
is par hi to hai unko fakr-o-naaz #VijayGoel— Raja (@Raja_Sw) August 11, 2016
#VijayGoel proving me right ☺https://t.co/IBCqf3Fpfi
— Upkar Kumar (@kumarupkar) August 11, 2016
Goel is said to have gone to the field during the India-Japan hockey match without a special pass. On his part Goel has defended himself saying, “Our team had won the match (hockey), and to cheer them is not a crime. That is what we are here for. I was asked for a pass, and I went back to get it. So I don’t see why it’s an issue. I don’t think our staff is causing any trouble.” “The biggest problem is of language, which is creating a lot of misunderstandings. I think that may have been the case. We are watching matches and we are boosting the morale of our players,” Goel said.

