Sports Minister Astrid Rodríguez denied being under the influence of alcohol It was all a technical error, he explained during the opening of the Coffee Region National Games.
Additionally, some of those attending the event (both Government members and others) Public officials not close to Casa de Nariño also came out to support the official.
(Read: ‘It is the institution’s fault, I am not offended’ Minister Astrid Rodríguez)
“I was a little surprised, it wasn’t because I thought it was unfortunate that a technical error would cause controversy. “It is also a mistake that the organization, the sports protocol, did not foresee and plan the event well,” he said in an interview with EL TIEMPO after the controversy that arose with his speech at the opening of the games.
(You may be interested in: They deny that the Minister of Sports was drunk at the National Games)
“The sports protocol insisted that the organization do this from where it is. Unfortunately, when I start speaking my own voice is heard and echoed very loudly, what I do is press on to allow those in the technical field to correct what is presented.” At the end of February, María Isabel Urrutia left the sports portfolio due to allegations of irregularities in the signing of contracts.
On social networks, the official was accused of being drunk during the event held on Saturday night in Pereira, at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium, which was the scene of the event.
(We invite you to read: Four veterans of the Colombian Battalion were buried in South Korea)
In networks, especially in X, Videos questioning the official’s condition are being published because they sound like he is under the influence of alcohol.
And contrary to what some users wondered about whether the videos were real or fictional, the truth was that the minister could not be heard speaking clearly in the official broadcast.
“Is the Minister of Sports also a “coffee addict”?” Some of the comments from social network users were “Astrid Rodríguez, Minister of Sports in the government of Gustavo Petro, arrived drunk at the opening of the National Games.”
“Unfortunately, there was no (sound test) here, no one said to me ‘come here, minister, go here and test the sound’. When the situation arose, there was a lot of tension on the technical side among those accompanying me, and this gave rise to what is seen in the videos,” the official told EL TIEMPO.
(Other recommended news: 127 controversial new positions at the State Department)
In his statement to this newspaper, the Minister said, while reading the scenario prepared for his intervention, “I understand that this does not end, people around me tell me ‘read slower’, I read slower.” ; then ‘read faster’, I read faster, ‘put on headphones’. How do I wear headphones while reading a book? They started talking in my ear and I got angry. I tried to finish the conversation as I was preparing for the opening of the games. But a situation arose that I could not explain, you can see it on the channels: I got angry, I made diction errors because people were talking to me from behind while I was reading. “I said, ‘Let’s move forward, let’s finish the conversation,’ I thought immediately and said let’s open the Games because that was the end of the message.”
In his speech, the official also explained what the reasons for booing might be.
“It’s probably a criticism of the Government, I think they didn’t just show up when I spoke, they booed before too.” Rodríguez stated.
Amid the controversy, he took the opportunity to call on the country to focus on sports.
(Also: President Peter’s social reforms are moving slowly through Congress, what’s going on?)
“I want to make a call to focus on athletes; They need to draw attention to me with my speech, not to me. This shouldn’t be the most important thing, it should be the opening. “We should focus on the athletes who are the heroes.”
In fact, many members of the Government closed ranks in favor of the official and confirmed his view.
For example, the person who came forward to defend the minister was Nórida Rodríguez, director of RTVC, who was present at the opening of the Nationals.
“I spoke with Minister Astrid Rodríguez yesterday (Saturday) minutes before her intervention at the opening of the National Games. We talked about the excitement of the event and its importance for the country. I saw his intervention live, it is a lie that he was drunk. “There was a sound problem” stated the directive of the public media system.
in the same sense Antioquia Governor Aníbal Gaviria, who was in the stadium at the opening ceremony of the National Games, spoke.
“I was three rows behind the Minister of Sports at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium at the opening of the National Games. I assure you: I was not drunk. There was a voice return problem on the platform he was talking on. The department leader said yesterday, again via his account on X, “That’s the way things are!” he stated.
POLITICS AND SPORTS
Source: Exame
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
