Can Salman Khan give India a boost at the Rio 2016 Olympics?
Yes, says the Bollywood megastar, who has been appointed goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent heading to Brazil in August.
“Having someone like me helps in creating a buzz about the Olympics,” said the 50-year-old Khan, somewhat grandly. In this new role, he wants to “charge up players and see how they are progressing”, and hopes that his encouragement will bring India more medals this year.
Bollywood celebrities have often been called on to endorse various sports in the hope some of their stardust will rub off.
Amitabh Bachchan carried the Olympic flame in London on the eve of the 2012 Olympics. Akshay Kumar was a torchbearer at the winter Olympics in 2010, and a goodwill ambassador for the Special Olympics in 2009, a global event supported by international personalities outside of the sports arena.
While Khan is a superstar and commands millions of fans, he remains mired in controversy, what with the jury still out on two of his biggest brushes with the law – killing protected deer in Jodhpur in 1998, and a fatal hit-and-run in Mumbai in 2002.
The news of the actor’s appointment was met with vociferous dissent from sportspersons such as Indian wrestler and Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt.
Dutt believes that Khan has signed up only to promote his upcoming sports film, Sultan, which is about a wrestler's life. Supporting Dutt is former Olympic athlete Milkha Singh, the subject of the 2015 Hindi biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, starring Farhan Akhtar, who told a television reporter the Olympics need ambassadors from sports and not Bollywood.
This annoyed Khan’s father, the celebrated screenwriter Salim Khan, who retorted with several tweets, including:
“Milkhaji it is not Bollywood it is the Indian Film Industry and that too the largest in the world.”
“The same industry that resurrected you from fading away in oblivion.”
“Salman Khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer cyclist and weightlifter.”
But his son continues to attract criticism on social media, especially Twitter, and some of the remarks are scathing:
Fraud Pitt @doubblenegative: “The greatest achievement for this nation will be when it can go beyond Bollywood for anything.”#SalimForSalman #SalmanRioRow
The Day Dreamer @iSwarnendu: “I support the decision of making #SalmanKhan Olympic ambassador. BHAI has unmatchable talent in shooting, hitting & running.”
Vibhav Dholakia @Vibhir “Next what[?] Priyanka Chopra awarded bronze medal as she played MaryKom.” #SalmanForRio
LolaNutty @namitaadavi: “The only sport Salman Khan has probably mastered is running – run people over, run from law, run around trees.”#SalmanRioRow
There have been some positive comments from former sports stars who see Bollywood as a kind of conduit for better sponsorship and way to generate interest in sports other than cricket – an India-wide obsession that eclipses even the country’s national sport, hockey.
Award-winning Indian boxer Vijender Singh, tweeted: “Involve @BeingSalmanKhan & senior sportspeople as ambassadors. Will enhance media/sponsor interest, esp for budding athletes.” #SalmanForRio
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, the only Olympic gold medallist from India, expressed pleasure: “Dear @BeingSalmanKhan, am sure you will use your tremendous goodwill to help Indian Olympic Sport and Olympic athletes in their pursuit towards excellence. Congratulations on being appointed ambassador of the Indian Olympic Team!”
Indian boxing champion Mary Kom tweeted: “It’s good for us to have a brand ambassador like him.”
Erstwhile cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes Khan’s presence can benefit the Olympics, just as Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, who own teams in the Indian Premier League for 20/20 cricket, attract crowds to stadiums.
“If he can bring a lot more awareness, then why not? I don’t see anything wrong in it,” he said.
Praful Patel, a member of parliament, expressed caution about what we really need to do now – which is to wait until the Indian Olympic Association announces the names of the other goodwill ambassadors, reportedly eminent sports personalities.
“Anything we do lands into a controversy?” he tweeted. “For our country’s sake let’s move on. His support should be welcomed. Jai ho [Victory to India].”
artslife@thenational.ae
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
if you go
The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
