Mumbai, Jun 4 (IANS): Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has congratulated Nita Ambani, founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, on being nominated as an independent candidate to be a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The announcement was made on Friday, following which, the 50-year-old actor took to Twitter to congratulate Ambani.

"Congrats to Nita Ambani on being nominated to International Olympic Committee. Awesome darling. Now sports to be promoted at grassroots level," SRK tweeted.

The election for membership, which officials say is a mere formality, is scheduled at the 129th IOC Session at Rio de Janeiro between August 2 and August 4. As per the new selection process, Ambani, when elected, will continue to serve as a member of the IOC until she reaches 70 years of age.

Among Indians, Ambani will be the first woman and the third individual to become a member of the IOC after the late Dorabji Tata and Raja Randhir Singh, who is currently an honorary member of the IOC.

The list also includes Anant Singh of South Africa, a film producer, who was raised in the country's apartheid era and wrote a book on late President Nelson Mandela -- "Long Walk to Freedom". He also produced "Yesterday" that was South Africa's first Oscar nominated movie.