'Have You all gone to Rio on Paid Holiday?' Hockey India Prez slams IOA and Olympic Chef de Mission

The Rio Olympics have been in shambles even before the event has been officially unveiled. Reports abounded about the lack of facilities in the Olympic village with blocked showers and toilets, leaky taps and unfurnished rooms greeting the players. The Indian contingent that landed was welcomed to a similar sight in their accommodation.

In a letter to the IOA, India's hockey coach Roelant Oltmans had requested the IOA to provide the athletes with Television sets so that they could watch their opponent's matches. But Oltmans' request appeared to have elicited no reaction from the sizeable group of officials who have traveled along with the athletes to Rio. The response, or the lack of it, appears to have spurred Hockey India's President Narinder Batra.

In a strongly worded response, Batra questioned the IOA President N Ramachandran and Chef de Mission Rakesh Gupta if they were on paid holiday. He also quoted parts of Oltmans' letter in a message that is set to provoke, if not call to action, the Olympic officials.

It appears our athletes will once again be let down by the authorities when they need them the most.

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