New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced sprint legend Usain Bolt as the ambassador of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 set to be played in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to 29. Born in Jamaica, Bolt had created history at the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing where he clinched the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m races in world record times.
His well-known record – clocking 9.58 seconds for the 100m race still looks unbreachable. He completed the 200m race in 19.19 seconds and for the 4x100m race, he took 36.84 seconds. The Jamaican was delighted about his new role as the World Cup will also be played in his home.
“I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Coming from the Caribbean where cricket is a part of life, the sport has always held a special place in my heart,” an ICC media release quoted Bolt as saying.
Bolt was also of the opinion that it would be massive for cricket to enter the USA market. While he will be rooting for West Indies at the World Cup, he said that getting the sport into the US is big for cricket as the nation is the biggest sports market in the world.
“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,” he said.
As the sprinting stalwart takes on the new role, he will be playing a key part in promoting the event which starts with a cameo appearance in next week’s release of the event’s official anthem which will also feature iconic artists Sean Paul and Kes.
ICC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Allardice said, “Usain Bolt is a global icon, we are thrilled to have him on board as an Ambassador for the T20 World Cup. His passion for cricket is well known, making him the perfect fit for this role.”
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