THE OLYMPICS: WINTER GAMES AT ALBERTVILLE : Quayle Mob Scene Angers the French

A good-luck visit by Vice President Dan Quayle to the Olympic athletes’ village here turned into a mob scene that shut out the local mayor and left some members of Quayle’s entourage, including the U.S. ambassador, out in the cold.

Quayle was swarmed by American and other athletes, and more reporters and security people than the French had counted on in the village cafeteria where he had lunch with U.S. Olympians.

“The Americans abused their rights,” an angry Mayor Jean-Francois Chedal-Bornu said. “There were just too many people in the restaurant. It was unbelievable.”

Officials of this Alpine town of 600 had authorized only 23 people to be in Quayle’s group. But a couple of dozen more were brought in with the vice president, leaving some people outside, scrambling to get in.

Chedal-Bornu himself was ejected from the scene as he was trying to get Quayle to sign a guest register.

“Get him the hell out of here,” U.S. Olympic Committee member Steve Bull was overheard saying.

Walter Curley, U.S. ambassador to France, was also initially denied access to the village by the French and had to be escorted inside.

“The U.S. delegation asked for about 80 passes, and we limited them to 23,” Chedal-Bornu said. “We made a big effort with the vice president’s visit, and this is what happened.”

More than 40 people entered the village with Quayle, said Hugh Addington, an official with Quayle’s office.

Quayle was met by about 50 U.S. athletes and officials in front of one of the village residences. In the cafeteria, people swarmed around Quayle as reporters and U.S. Olympic Committee photographers elbowed for position. Athletes jostled one another to have their pictures taken with Quayle.