IOA says Salman's appointment will help attract youth towards sports

Defending its decision to appoint Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the Goodwill Brand Ambassador of the Indian contingent in the Rio Games, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice-president Tarlochan Singh on Sunday said former's public appeal would help garner publicity and attaract youths towards sports.

"Since the trend among the youth is that they look towards such film celebrities, so if we are getting their help, there is no harm. After all, they have come forward; actually, if you ask me, everyone in India who is popular, he should also be of help to the sports," Singh said here.

Singh said that they did have to spend 'a penny' to rope in Salman for being ambassador, as the actor himself showed keenness to help sports.

"We wanted more and more information to the people through media on the activities of the sports federations and also the role being played by our athletes who are under the preparation of going to Olympics. So what we have realized that naturally media has its own compulsion but when such celebrities who have general appeal to the public they come forward to help, naturally we will get also more publicity," he added.

After drawing flak for appointing Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the Goodwill Brand Ambassador of the Indian contingent in the Rio Games, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) clarified its stand, saying the former is the 'biggest Bollywood star' with ability to draw 'maximum attention from the masses'.

Indian Olympic Association secretary general Rajeev Mehta in a statement said Salman is not going to be the sole face of Indian Olympics contingent, adding they are also in talks with two other big names in music and cricket to popularize Olympic sports.

Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh earlier joined the bandwagon of sports personalities condemning the Indian Olympic Association's decision to appoint Salman as the Goodwill Brand Ambassador of the Indian contingent.

Indian men's hockey team skipper Sardara Singh, however, backed the IOA for selecting Salman as the brand ambassador.

The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor, whose next film is based on the life of a wrestler, was earlier announced as the brand ambassador of the Indian contingent in Rio by the Indian Olympic Association.