If the fastest man on earth participates in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it is going to be anything but a Bolt from the blue for top Indian sports officials.
In fact, they are willing to move heaven and earth to ensure that Usain Bolt, who set a world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres at the World Championships, makes it here next year.
Bolt’s comment that the Commonwealth Games were very much on his radar, just after the Jamaican had scorched the track at Berlin, has heartened Indian officials no end.
Suresh Kalmadi, who heads the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Indian Athletic Federation (IAF) as well as the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games, said it was important to ensure that Bolt participates in the Commonwealth Games. “We will speak not just to Jamaican officials but to those from other countries as well as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to ensure we get him here,” Kalmadi told DNA from London. “The CWG Federation is a close-knit family and I am sure it will help in ensuring that not only Jamaica but other countries too send their best athletes,” added Kalmadi.
Even though the Commonwealth Games are more than a year away and it is too early to speculate on form, fitness and selection, organisers do keep an eye on big names. Kalmadi promised they would do their best to attract the best from around the world.
“Everyone knows what Bolt’s presence can do to a championship. His being at the Commonwealth Games will lift the profile of athletics, which everyone knows, is top class in these Games,” said Kalmadi.
Bolt, who shaved a phenomenal 0.11 seconds off his own record set at the Beijing Olympics last year, has been aiming to eventually take the record down to 9.4 seconds, something unimaginable just a few years ago. The Jamaican also set world marks in the 200 metres and the 4x100 metres relay at Beijing, becoming the first man to set world records in all three events at a single Olympics.
