This refers to the editorial, “The people’s ambassador” (April 29). The appointment of Bollywood actor Salman Khan as India's goodwill ambassador by the Indian Olympic Association is welcome as this will not only arouse public enthusiasm in games, but will also attract brand endorsements for athletes. However, it is unfortunate that this gesture is being ridiculed by certain disgruntled sports persons and sections of media alike. It is surprising that the same coterie of critics had no objections to celebrities owning and promoting teams in the Indian Premier league.
It is often lamented that sports other that cricket is not financially attractive and does not command similar media attention. The IOA's move precisely intends to address this lack of support from corporate and celebrity bandwagon. Instead of lampooning the infusion of glamour into an otherwise neglected sports culture, it is time we argued the non-availability of sports infrastructure in terms of stadium, training, sports equipment and funds.