By Usain Bolt, the world renowned former athlete who has won eight Olympic gold medals, is being chosen as the ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Bolt believes cricket can prosper in America on the backdrop of co-hosting this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and a successful foray back into the Olympics in 2028.
Bolt’s sprinting into stardom began at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, all in world record times. Bolt currently holds world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m with times of 9.58 secs, 19.19 secs and 36.84 secs respectively. Bolt also achieved the distinction of being the first athlete to win four World Championship titles in the 200 m category.
Nicknamed as Lightning Bolt, he has the distinction of becoming the only sprinter in the world to win 100 m and 200 m races at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016).
It is interesting for cricket enthusiasts to know that the former athlete has a deep connection with cricket. He is a Jamaican, and Jamaica is part of the West Indies, once a great cricket playing team, which had lost its reputation for more than a decade.
Here it deserves a mention that Jamaica has had produced great cricketers like Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle, Jeff Dujon and Michael Holding among others. Bolt is a friend of Gayle too, the former opening batsman from the West Indies who had the reputation of creating a gale in the field with his power hitting.
Cricket was Bolt’s first love in the sports realm and he wanted to become a fast bowler. According to ICC, the 37-year-old great former athlete grew up playing cricket in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica and only turned his attention to athletics and running as fast as he could when he was urged to try track and field events by his cricket coach in high school.
Bolt is quite excited about his new role. “I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Bolt told the ICC recently while adding, “Coming from the Caribbean where cricket is a part of life, the sport has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honoured to be part of such a prestigious tournament.” He said he was looking forward to bringing his energy and enthusiasm to the forthcoming World Cup and contributing to the growth of cricket globally.
The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to June 29 2024. It will be the ninth edition of the men’s T20 World Cup, organised by the ICC. This is the first time the US will host a major ICC tournament. In this edition of the T20 World Cup, 20 teams will be competing for the first time in the history of the ICC World Cup.
The tournament will feature 55 matches held at nine different venues. Six of these venues are located in the West Indies, and three are in the USA. The West Indies will host the Super Eight matches and the knockout stage matches. The West Indies will host 39 of these 55 matches.
Bolt is expected to play a crucial role in promoting the forthcoming historic event. In the music video for the tournament’s official anthem, titled ‘Out of this World’, which is released by Sean Paul and Kes, the legendary former athlete Chris Gayle and some other sporting stars did have a cameo appearance.
Bolt also expressed that the tournament being held in the USA boded well for cricket’s return to the Olympics at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The last time cricket was played at the Olympics was at the Paris Olympics, way back in 1900.
“While I will of course be supporting the West Indies at the World Cup, getting the sport into the US is big for cricket. It’s the biggest sports market in the world, and the energy that we will bring for the T20 World Cup is a huge opportunity leading towards cricket’s inclusion in the LA Olympics in 2028,” said the legendary former athlete.
“Usain Bolt is a global icon. We are thrilled to have him on board as an Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to engage with a new generation of fans. His passion for cricket is well known, making him the perfect fit for this role. Alongside his world record breaking achievements and energetic personality, he will add another exciting element to the World Cup,” said the ICC’s Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Allardice.
