It feels correct if relevant people represent a thing or an activity. Same is the thinking of sports fraternity and its two important members, Milkha Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt. As recently, these two have showcased their discontent over the decision which entails Bollywood actor Salman Khan to become the goodwill ambassador of Indian Olympics just because he is a star and his upcoming movie is based on country’s national game Kabaddi.
The two sportspersons believe that making some actor an ambassador for sport related event mainly because he is remotely related to it by one of his acting portrayals is not something which can be accepted. Instead an actual sportsman should be given this podium to represent India and its goodwill at the coming Olympics.
Our popular Flying Sikh voiced his discontent in these statements of his.
“It would have been better to pick a sportsperson in his place. I am of the view that our sportspersons; be those from shooting, athletics, volleyball or other sports, they are the real ambassadors of India who would represent the country in the Olympics. Still, if we had to pick an ambassador, it could have been from the sporting arena.
I want that the decision to name Salman Khan as ambassador should be revised,”
Along with Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt, a bronze-medalist at the London Olympics, said “I cannot understand what purpose such an appointment will serve for the athletes. Everybody has the right to promote movies in India, but Olympics are not a place to promote films. Can anyone tell me what the role of goodwill ambassador is? Why are you fooling the public?
Sportspersons like PT Usha and Milkha Singh strived hard for the nation during difficult times. But what has this ambassador done in sports. What will happen by the appointment of an ambassador? If you had to do this drama, then why not appoint a sportsperson?”
