NEW DELHI: India men's hockey coach
Roelant Oltmans
' request for better facilities at the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro has been aided by
Rakesh Gupta
, the Indian contingent's
Chef de Mission
. After seeking assistance from the
Olympic Organising Committee
to provide more furniture and TV sets for the India's athletes in Rio, Gupta has now decided to go ahead and purchase the required amenities through the Indian embassy.
A day after the Indian hockey team landed in Rio, Oltmans put forth his grievances over the unfurnished accommodation provided to both the men's and women's teams in a letter to Gupta. Oltmans emphasised that the players "needed to watch matches of the other teams live on television" to have a better understanding of their opponents' strengths and weaknesses.
"For athletes who have to perform at top level, we need proper chairs and tables in the apartments for six persons," Oltmans wrote. "Spending too much time in bean chairs might occur (sic) back injuries for the players."
The Dutchman had himself tried to rent or buy TV chairs at the Olympic Village, but was unable to as they were apparently sold out. On the same day, Hockey India president
Narinder Batra
shared photos and video of players in an apartment waiting for assistance.