Prime minister Narendra Modi has assured former captain Bhaichung Bhutia of unflinching support to football even after the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
With less than 100 days left for the country's first-ever FIFA tournament, Bhutia thanked Modi for his "continuous support to Indian football".
"The Honourable prime minister's passion for sports is really admirable," Bhutia said a day after Modi met Indian sporting legends during the inauguration of a stadium in Ahmedabad.
"The prime minister has been possibly the biggest supporter of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He has been standing beside Indian football all throughout and it's such an inspiration for the footballing fraternity,? Bhutia, the first Indian footballer to play over 100 international matches, stated.
"I thanked him for promoting Indian football. The prime minister assured me of his continued support for the U-17 World Cup, adding that he will continue supporting football even after the World Cup ends," Bhutia added.
Modi also made a special mention of the Indian football legend bringing laurels to the country.
Modi had in the past, in his address to the nation, acknowledged the rising popularity of football in India and has called for the creation of right atmosphere for its development.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 is slated to kick off on October 6, with the official draw scheduled to take place in Mumbai on July 7.
A 19th-century painting in Wiesbaden sees a massive visitor surge.
Fans spotted a direct link to the opening shot of The Fate of Ophelia.
Museum staff were completely caught off guard by the 'Swiftie' invasion.
They are now planning special tours to capitalise on the unexpected fame.
The question on everyone's mind: did Taylor Swift visit this place herself?
It is not every day a quiet German museum gets caught in a pop culture hurricane. But that is exactly what has happened at Museum Wiesbaden, where a painting of Shakespeare’s Ophelia has become a pilgrimage site. The reason? Taylor Swift’s latest music video for The Fate of Ophelia kicks off with a scene that looks ripped straight from their gallery wall. Suddenly, they have queues of fans where usually there is just quiet contemplation.
The Ophelia painting that Swifties say inspired The Fate of Ophelia becomes an overnight sensation Instagram/taylorswift
How did this Ophelia painting become so popular?
To be honest, it was simply hanging there. Friedrich Heyser’s work from about 1900. It is lovely, sure, but it was not a headline act. Then the video drops. And you see it immediately in the pose, the white dress, and the water lilies. It is practically a direct copy or, let us say, an homage. Fans on social media connected the dots in hours. Now the museum cannot believe its luck. Visitor numbers went from a few dozen admirers to hundreds, just over one weekend, like a whole new crowd for a century-old painting.
What has the museum said about the surprise attention?
They are thrilled, but a bit stunned. A spokesperson said it was a "shock" and they are having an "absolute Ophelia run." Can you blame them? One minute you are managing a classical collection, the next you are at the centre of a global fan phenomenon. They tried to reach Swift’s team, but they had no luck there. But they have leaned into it completely. Now they are organising a special "Ophelia reception" with guided tours. Smart move, right? It is a perfect storm of high art and pop star power, and they are riding the wave.
The big question: did Taylor Swift actually visit?
This is the real mystery, is not it? How did this specific painting, in this specific German museum, end up as the template for a mega-budget video? The staff are wondering the same thing. She was in Germany for the Eras tour last July. Did she slip in, incognito? Did a location scout send a photo? The museum thinks they would have noticed if Taylor Swift was wandering their halls. Who knows? It is the sort of stuff that feeds fan speculation for years. Whatever the facts, the painting's life has been irreversibly altered.
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