Government Backs Bolt Farewell in Jamaica
By: , March 17, 2017
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Kingston, March 17, 2017 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says the Ministry is providing financial support to the Racers Grand Prix, which will feature Usain Bolt’s farewell performance on Jamaican soil in June.
At the launch of the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston today, Minister Grange announced funding support in the sum of US$200,000 for the staging of the event through the Sports Development Foundation.
Bolt will run the 100m at the Racers Grand Prix on June 10 at the National Stadium. It will be his final race in Jamaica.
Minister Grange said she was happy that this year’s Racers Grand Prix will be in honour of Usain Bolt whom she describes as “Jamaica’s greatest athletics son” and the “world’s greatest athlete.”
The Minister also announced that her Ministry was on track to completing a “lasting tribute to this great son of Jamaica— an eight foot statue that will be mounted in Independence Park.” Minister Grange said the statue is due to be completed by Independence and the mounting is scheduled to coincide with Bolt’s final World Championship in August.
“Bolt, the legend, will be spoken about and studied by athletes for generations to come,” said Minister Grange. She added “I am determined that Jamaica will do its part in memorialising and celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime athlete.”
In the meantime, several of the world’s leading athletes are confirmed to participate in the Racers Grand Prix including: Yohan Blake, Wayde van Niekerk, Asafa Powell, David Rudisha, Warren Weir, Mo Farah, Francena McCorory, Jasmine Stowers and Delilah Mohammed.