New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today announced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian Contingent for Rio Olympics 2016 during an event held at the Olympic Bhawan. The announcement was made in the presence of Olympic medalists and Rio Olympic qualified athletes M C Mary Kom (Olympic medalist boxer), Sardar Singh, Captain Indian Men Hockey Team (Rio Qualified), Ritu Rani, Captain Indian Women Hockey Team (Rio Qualified), ApurviChandela, Shooting (Rio Qualified) and ManikaBatra, Table Tennis (Rio Qualified). The association between Salman Khan & Indian Olympic Association was facilitated by IOA’s official marketing agency IOS Sports & Entertainment.

This is for the first time in the history of Indian Olympic Association that a goodwill ambassador has been appointed from Bollywood. The thought process behind this is to leverage Salman Khan’s mass appeal to lead a national campaign cheering the Indian athletes in their quest for medal glory at the world’s greatest sporting event.

Speaking on this new association with Indian Olympic Association Mr. Salman Khan said “I am honoured that Indian Olympic Association has chosen me as the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It is a matter of great national pride that our athletes are performing better and better at the Olympic Games and I think we should all join hands in giving them every support and cheer for them so that Rio 2016 becomes our best Olympic tally”.

Commenting on the announcement Mr. N Ramachandran, President Indian Olympic Association said “We welcome Salman Khan as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian Contingent for Rio Olympics and his association is in line with our focus to create the required excitement in the country. His association will not only attract sports lovers but also help motivate the players to do well in the Olympics. We are sure our association with Salman Khan will go a long way”.