Usain Bolt.
Double sprint world record holder Usain Bolt is doutbful for the 8th staging of the Jamaica National (JN) Jamaica International Invitational Track and Field Meet set for May 7 at the National Stadium.
However, five world champions including Jamaica's Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and American Kerron Clement have been confirmed for the meet.
Bolt and American rival Tyson Gay are among the top athletes yet to confirm their participation but Donald Quarrie, athlete liaison officer for the Jamaica International Invitational, says both could still compete at the meet.
"They've had set backs in their training and they’ve asked us to give them some more time. Tyson made his decision to compete here last year one week before the meet and we’ve accepted their reasoning and (we’re) hoping that they will be able to compete on May 7," Quarrie said.
Jeter & Spearmon top compete
Meanwhile, Jamaica's Melaine Walker, Barbadian sprint hurdler Ryan Brathwaite and American 400 meter champion Sanya Richards are the other world champions confirmed to compete.
Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, Shericka Williams, as well as Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake and Jermaine Gonzales are among the other outstanding Jamaicans down to compete.
Americans Carmelita Jeter, Wallace Spearmon, Terrence Trammell, Antiguan Daniel Bailey and Britain's Christine Ohurugou, are among the other overseas athletes confirmed for the meet.
The event was launched at the Wyndham Hotel on Thursday.
It will be broadcast live via international cable television to more than 160 million households in 22 countries.
Meet to be televised world wide
Swedish television company IEC, one of the biggest cable distributors of sporting events world wide with viewers throughout America, Europe and Asia has signed on with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
Howard Aris, JAAA President, explained the purpose and significance of having the company on board for this years meet.
"The meet will be televised in over 160 million homes world wide and in addition to that, we’ll also be streaming it and showing it in the Caribbean. The totality of that exposure is an excellent economic opportunity for companies and also to showcase Jamaica the country and what we can do," Aries said.
Television Jamaica will have exclusive local broadcast rights for the meet, which is now an IAAF world challenge meet, one level below the Diamond League, will be hosted to the tune of J$120 million.
Ticket prices will range from $2,500 for grandstand to $500 for bleachers.
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