This Sachin Tendulkar Letter To IOA Tells Who India's Rio Olympics Ambassadors Really Are!

BCCL

As the Indian Olympics Association made headlines after picking Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as their Goodwill ambassador for the Rio Olympics athletic contingent, stark responses came from all quarters.

Where iconic Olympians like Milkha Singh, Dhanraj Pillay and Yogeshwar Dutt expressed angst over the decision, popular cricket and football celebrities like Sourav Ganguly and Bhaichung Bhutia batted for the glamour quotient that Salman would bring to the athletes.

BCCL

In order to end the Salman-appointment impasse, the IOA approached iconic Indian maestros in their fields like Sachin Tendulkar, AR Rehman and India's lone Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to become the goodwill ambassadors. Bindra accepted the role to partner Salman for the cause and on April 3, Sachin too responded with a yes.

Sachin Tendulkar accepts IOA invitation to become India's goodwill ambassador at #Rio2016 (In pic-His letter to IOA) pic.twitter.com/3DT0WlYL98

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 3, 2016

But more than a yes, Sachin wanted to convey something worthwhile to the sports babus of India - that the athletes themselves are the true ambassadors of the sport. "I strongly believe that the sportspersons from different parts of the country, pursuing their unique skills are the true ambassadors of the growing sporting culture in this country," he wrote in that letter of acceptance of the role of becoming a goodwill ambassador for the Rio-bound contingent. 

twitter

With just three months for the Olympics to start in Rio de Janeiro, all the athletes are tuning up their skills, silently, even at times under not so perfect conditions to train in. Sachin hopes that the stories of struggle and hard work that they put in to clinch that elusive Rio berth must be highlighted.

"Awareness about their struggles, discipline and single minded focus will help develop many more world beating champions and courage passionate following of the Olympics in our country," he wrote.

Reuters

In more ways than one, Sachin wants that he individually mustn't be the focus of attention but the athletes instead must be credited for the hard yards they put in day in and day out. Such words coming from the mouth of most followed sportstar the nation saw in the last quarter century, is a big deal.

Just like his playing days, Sachin played this ball with a straight bat, being the messenger for the cause rather than the message itself!