Usain Bolt of Jamaica. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
In a recent development, Usain Bolt, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, has been named as the ambassador of the 2024 ICC men’s T20 World Cup. The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the USA in June.
Bolt expressed his delight highlighting the personal significance of the event. Growing up playing cricket on the Caribbean Island of Jamaica, the Olympic legend only shifted his focus to athletics after the encouragement he received during his schooling.
“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, and I am honoured to be part of such a prestigious tournament. I look forward to bringing my energy and enthusiasm to the World Cup and contributing to the growth of cricket globally,” Bolt said in an ICC statement.
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The eight-time Olympic gold medalist anticipates a vibrant atmosphere in the Caribbean nation, with fans embracing the renowned dancing, music, and high-energy ambience throughout the tournament. He is also eager to witness the potential impact the sport could make in the USA while hosting a major cricket tournament for the first time.
“America believes a lot in sport and high intensity and for me to get into that market is big. When they follow a sport, they follow a sport properly and they go all in and I feel like if they can crack into it, they will get into it the right way. If we bring energy like I know we will for the T20 [World Cup] it is going to be wonderful,” he added.
The Jamaican sprinter foresees further progress in 2028 as cricket makes its comeback to the Olympic Games. Notably, cricket’s last appearance was in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.
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“If you listen to NBA players and the way they talk about winning a gold medal, they have won NBA titles, they have their rings, but they are like ‘we went to the Olympics’. The other day I watched the documentary about how they (USA basketball team) lost (at the 2004 Olympics) and there was a Redeem Team (at the Beijing Games in 2008) and the focus and the hard work (they needed to win).
“That is how big (important) getting a gold medal is. Every sport tries to get into the Olympics because it is such a big thing and it is such a great feeling to be on a podium winning that gold medal,” he concluded.