Thursday 18 April 2013

ATHLETICS: BOLT IN, OSCAR OUT


                             

Bolt will be one of a dozen Olympic champions competing over the three-day event between July 26-28, which forms part of the Diamond League series. He will race in the 100m on July 26, then run the 4x100m relay the following evening.

Other Olympic gold-medallists confirmed for the event include the likes of Jessica Ennis and Sally Pearson, who will contest the 100m hurdles, as well as world-record 110m hurdles champion Aries Merritt, and 400m winner Kirani James.

Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford will also be on the bill, but it is Bolt’s name which has grabbed the headlines – the Jamaican has not competed on these shores outside the Olympics since 2009.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to the UK, especially with it being a year since winning three gold medals in the Olympic Stadium. The crowd were amazing at the Games, and I hope they will be out again in their numbers at the end of July.”

Bolt's absence from the UK has been partly due to Britain's tax laws which could have seen him give up a share of his appearance or prize money and endorsements.

An exemption for "non-residents" is now in force and Bolt said he was relishing the chance to play a part in what is being dubbed the "Anniversary Games."

Bolt won the 100m and 200m in London and then helped Jamaica win the 4x100m relay in a new world record.

BUT

                                                    
There is no invitation for Paralympic gold medalist and olympic runner; Pistorious at the three-day event which finishes with a Paralympic Challenge on July 28.
Pistorious is on bail as he awaits trial facing charges of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in South Africa.

"I don’t want to see the Sunday of the Anniversary Games turning into a media circus. It would overshadow every other athlete that was there," said Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics.
"It’s not about innocent or guilty, it’s about how you handle an individual with a difficult moral situation hanging over them.
"Anything might change but, based on what I know at the moment, it would be a “no” if he rang this morning."


Of course success has plenti friends, familyz, fans, famzers... buh failure is an orphan! 

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