Three-time Olympic gold medallist
and former CARIFTA champion Usain Bolt has donated a pair of autographed track
shoes to the Local Organising Committee of the 2010 CARIFTA Games for an
auction.
The funds will go towards
offsetting the cost of the Haitian Athletic team's participation in CARIFTA
2010.
The auction will be conducted on
air and online with the lucky winner being announced during a live broadcast of
Cayman Crosstalk, hosted by Austin Harris and Gilbert McLean, on Rooster
101.9FM from the 2010 CARIFTA Games on the opening day Saturday 3 April. The
starting bid for the highly coveted track shoes is $1,000.
Following the devastating
earthquake that caused widespread damage and loss of life in Haiti, the LOC
took the decision to waive the requirement for the payment of airfare,
accreditation, accommodation and meals for the Haitian team at this year’s
CARIFTA Games.
Former Cayman Islands Athletic
Association president, H. Delroy Murray, working through the office of
Ambassador Courtney Walsh OJ, requested from Bolt a donation of the shoes to be
auctioned to assist the Haitian team.
“Usain was more than willing to
provide his assistance for a worthy cause,” said Murray.
The LOC has thanked Bolt for his
generous assistance, and has extended a special invitation to him to be a guest
of the LOC at this year’s CARIFTA Games being held at the Truman Bodden Sports
Complex over the Easter weekend.
‘Lightning Bolt’ holds the world record for
the 100 metres, the 200m and, along with his Jamaican teammates, the 4x100m
relay. He also holds the Olympic record for all three of these races.
During the 2008 Summer Olympics in
Beijing, China, Bolt became the first man to set world records in all three at
a single Olympics. In August 2009 he lowered his own 100m and 200m world
records to 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds respectively at the World
Championships in Berlin.
At the 2004 CARIFTA Games in
Devonshire, Bermuda, Usain became the first junior sprinter to run the 200m in
under 20 seconds with a time of 19.93 s.
All are encouraged to bid
online to win the autographed running shoes. Click on www.rooster101.ky, follow the link to
Cayman Crosstalk, download the bidding form, complete and email to caymancrosstalk@hurleysgroup.com