Salman's Olympian controversy

The opinion among Indian sports fraternity is divided on Salman's appointment, saying IOA should have opted for a sports icon not a Bollywood star as the goodwill ambassador. Former short distance runner Milkha Singh, on whose life Bollywood made a feature film "Bhag Milkha Bhag" starring Farhan Akhtar in title role, and current Olympian wrestler Yogesh Dutt have opposed Salman as the brand ambassador.  

The Indian Olympic Association has justified its decision saying Salman will help attract the youth to the Olympics which is not as popular in India as say cricket or football or hockey.

However, Bollywood celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Sidharth Malhotra and Karan Johar have supported Salman's involvement with the games.

Johar, whose popular TV chat show "Koffee with Karan" saw Salman as the first guest on its last season said "whatever he does I think he is the best."

Katrina, taking a friendly jibe at her former boyfriend, said "is a controversy about Salman a new thing?"

Salman's father Salim Khan had defended his appointment yesterday.

"Salman may not have competed but is an A list swimmer, cyclist and weight lifter. Sportsmen are performing because of sports lovers like us," Salim had said.

Asked about her views on the controversy, Aishwarya said, "I have to say that anyone, who is doing good to

represent the country or working or speaking or standing for the betterment of art, music or sports, is wonderful and the person needs to be recognized."

Sidharth said he had no clue about the controversy but thinks the jury made the right decision.

BJP MP and yesteryear actress Hema Malini also supported the decision, saying Salman's popularity is being utilised for a good cause.

BJP MP and actress Kirron Kher also supported Salman. "I think that the sportsmen of this country need to

have a bigger heart. I've played badminton for this country, my sister has captained the Indian team, she is an Arjuna award winner. She has won medals at the Commonwealth (games) for badminton... I think we know Milkha uncle (Milkha Singh) very well...," Kher said.

"I feel when we choose someone like Salman Khan, it also brings in a lot of corporates. There are several sports which are not cricket, which need money, for coaching and all...The government can do only this much. And if he (Salman) brings in all that into it, I think it's wonderful for the sportsmen involved," she added.
 
"Someone had told me that 'film people live in an imaginary world and we sports people live in reality'. I would like to tell them that we live very much in reality. The amount of hard work that people in this line do, I doubt if many people in the country or world can," the 60-year-old actress said.

Actress Malaika Arora Khan too backed Salman on his appointment as a goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the Rio Olympics.

"He is what he is for a reason and was chosen for a reason. You have to give credit to the people who chose him purely because they know his leverage and what he brings to the stage,"she said.

While the debate may rage if the world of sports and Bollywood are poles apart, the jury is still out on the coming together of the two.