Salman Khan has been roped in by IOA as the Goodwill ambassador for the India’s Olympic contingent for the Rio 2016 Olympic games.The announcement was made in the presence of Olympic medallists and Rio star athletes such as boxer MC Mary Kom, hockey captain Sardar Singh, and shooter Apurvi Chandela, among others.
Speaking on the occasion Salman said
I am honoured that Indian Olympic Association has chosen me as the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
It is a matter of great national pride that our athletes are performing better and better at the Olympic Games and I think we should all join hands in giving them every support and cheer for them so that Rio 2016 becomes our best Olympic tally.
However the moves does not seem to have gone down well with most of the athletes. Most athletes expressed their disappointment over the decision of having a non sportsperson as the brand ambassador.
2012 London Olympics gold medalist Yogeshwar Dutt came down hard on officials for this decision. He wrote a series of tweets condemning the IOA over this decision
PT Usha,Milkha Singh jaise bade sports star hai jinhone kathin samay me desh ke liye mehnat ki. Khel ke kshetra me Es ambassador ne Kya kiya
— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) April 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/DuttYogi/status/723856610959974400
Kahi bhi ja Kar apni movie ka promotion kare,Es desh me adhikar hai Lekin Olympic movie promotion ki jagah Nahi https://t.co/ed6vCqNMXT
— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) April 23, 2016