New Delhi: Legendary Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has accepted the offer of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to become Goodwill Ambassador at the Rio Olympics to be held in August this year.
By accepting IOA offer, the former Team India captain has joined Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra to become India’s third Goodwill Ambassador at the Rio Olympics.
After accepting the IOA offer, the master blaster said that he is happy to accept the offer and that he would try his best to promote sports in India.
The IOA today confirmed that Tendulkar has accpeted its offer after the national Olympic body had invited the batting legend to come on board on April 29.
"Sachin Tendulkar has accepted our request to become goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent at the Olympics. We have received the official communication from him accpeting our request," IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta said.
"We are very happy to have an iconic sportsperson like Mr Tendulkar on board as goodwill ambassador. We are thankful to him. We hope his association and the association of other goodwill ambassadors will take Indian sport forward," he added.
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The IOAs had approached Bindra, Tendulkar and celebrated music composer AR Rehman after its move to make Salman the goodwill ambassador had drawn flak from many quarters, including wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and former athlete Milkha Singh, who had said the honour should be given to top sportspersons.
The IOA Secretary General, however, said they are yet to get a confirmation from Rehman. "Mr. Rehman is yet to communicate to us but we are hopeful that he will also accept our invitation," Mehta said.
Asked about what specific role the goodwill ambassadors would play, Mehta said: "These iconic sportspersons and celebrities will spread the idea of Olympic movement in every nook and corner of the country, every village, block and city of India.
"They will help in buolding up a sporting culture in this country. We need a sporting culture if we want to become a sporting country."
