We all know of Salman Khan as controversy’s favourite child, and his upfront and candid ways to deal with it. He is one man who speaks his heart out, without giving a damn about anyone. This time what made him speak out was the media’s uproar regarding his selection as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Olympics. He was appointed as the Ambassador, followed by AR Rahman and Sachin Tendulkar. But as usual, it was his nomination that created a stir and the media started to question his association with sports, while the others, especially Rahman, was let off easy, despite his similar kind of background like that of Khan.
Hindustan Times conducted an interview with Salman recently where the actor opened up about this issue for the very first time. Here are a few excerpts from it:
1. “The media should have criticized Sachin and Rahman when they were roped in (as the Olympics goodwill ambassadors).”
2.”In their case, too, while one isn’t a sportsperson, the other one has only played one sport.”
3.”Does Rahman need a state-level certificate or a national-level medal to be called a sportsperson?”
4.”You have issues with one person, who has court cases, but there are so many big politicians who have court cases against them.”
5.”Desh zyaada important hai ya Olympics? Mere liye toh desh is most important.”
6. “I am ready to leave it (the ambassadorship), if the politicians also leave their posts.”
7.”Several of our sportspersons neither have the equipment, nor the nutrition. But still, they go and win medals for India. Imagine what will happen if you give them (sportspersons) all the facilities they need.”
8.”Olympics should get a bigger platform, and more people should know about it. More than any committees or officials, it is about sportspersons.”
10.”A lot of wrestlers have told me, ‘What you are doing for wrestling (Sultan – The movie) is the most amazing thing.'”
11. “I have a lot of other places to join and lend my name to. I could have been associated with other sports leagues, where I would have got paid a lot of money. But I didn’t join them.”
12.”It has become a profession (for people to attack me).”
13. “My intention was that Olympics should get publicity, and everyone should know about it. But then, it didn’t happen.”
