Poor facilities for hockey players at Olympics Village: Oltmans

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 1: Indian hockey team’s performance director Roelant Oltmans has complained about poor facilities for both men and women players at the Olympic Village here.

In several e-mails to India’s Chef de Mission Rakesh Gupta on Sunday, Oltmans, also the men’s team chief coach has asked for more tables, chairs and TVs.

“For athletes who have to perform at top-level during a longer period of the Olympics we need proper chairs and tables in the apartments for six persons. Actually there are only two chairs in each apartment,” Oltmans wrote to Gupta.

“For men and women we are using nine apartments so we lack 28 proper chairs and for seven apartments we need at least one table as well. Spending too much time in bean-chairs might result in back-injuries for the players,” he added.

“In the staff apartments we’ve maged to bring in some tables. You mentioned there is no possibility to arrange by the Intertiol Olympic Association (IOA)/Brasilian organisers. So we need permission to purchase chairs from the outside market to avoid injuries during the Olympics.”

The Dutchman also demanded three more TVs so that his wards can follow the matches of different teams.

“During the Olympics we would like to give our players the possibility to watch the matches of our competitors live on TV,” Oltmans stated.

“I’ve tried to rent more TV’s but unfortutely they are sold out in the Village. I would like to get permission to purchase three TVs to be able to follow the hockey competition in both the staff rooms and at least in one of the male and female apartments.” IANS