B-Town supports Salman as India's ambassador at Rio Olympics

Bollywood celebrities have backed Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to appoint superstar Salman Khan as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the Rio Olympics amid controversy over his selection as the face of the games.
Some sports personalities had criticised Salman's appointment, saying IOA should have opted for a sports icon not a Bollywood star as the goodwill ambassador.
Celebrities like Katrina Kaif, Sidharth Malhotra, Karan Johar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have supported Salman's involvement with the games.
Johar, whose popular 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, "Salman Khan ko le kay controversy hai, woh naya cheez hai kya? (Is a controversy about Salman a new thing?)"
Salman's father 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.
When asked about her views on the controversy, Aishwarys 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 recognised."

Katrina's "Baar Baar Dekho" co-star Sidharth said he had no clue about the controversy but thinks the jury made the right decision.
"I don't know about the controversy but I think the people who have chosen, have chosen right, but I don't know much about it. I think he (Salman) is a man who is known for his fitness."
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Meanwhile, other Bollywood celebrities including filmmaker Karan Johar and actress-turned BJP MP 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 told reporters here on sidelines of an event.

"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.

Kher urged sport persons to give respect to the "Dabangg" actor.
"So with deep amount of respect, I would like to urge my peers and my juniors and seniors in the sports world to give some respect to someone like Salman Khan. He has been there for a long time, and he has lasted a long time. There must be something to the gentleman which inspires all of us," Kher said.
Johar said, "I think that consistency, sincerity, hard work and dedication are the mark of a great artist, athlete or anyone in the performing zone."
"Salman is a humongous achiever, and his brand can rightly be leveraged. His reach is tremendous, he is one of the biggest movie stars of our country and when he does endorse anything the impact is for everyone to see.

"If he has been made the goodwill ambassador then I think more power to the authority who chose him, more power to him to accept it and no power to people who actually reject this choice," the "My Name is Khan" director 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.

"More power to them. Sports is something that will always be close to my heart and I want it to have all the recognition possible and I think Salman will bring all that and much more," Malaika said.