(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Th the likes of double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake forced to pull out of the Games with injury the quality of the competition had been called into question.Athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are among the best in the world and the event has not been affected by big name withdrawals six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt said on Saturday.
With the likes of double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake forced to pull out of the Games with injury the quality of the competition had been called into question.
But the towering Jamaican who confirmed he would run in the 4x100 metre relay heats is confident the remaining athletes can still dazzle the Scottish crowd.
“I think the athletes that are here are top tier and they will try and perform” Bolt who will take part in his first Commonwealth Games after missing the 2006 and 2010 events told reporters.
“The Games will go on and they will be good. As long as there are athletes and eight lanes there’s competition.
“I don’t think anybody dropped out on purpose it’s all about injuries. It happens in the big Olympic Games and World Championships sometimes just things go wrong at the last moment.”
Despite skipping the individual sprints Bolt insists he will honour a commitment to enter the relay — both the heat and a probable final.
“I am here to run” the six-time Olympic champion said on Saturday fresh from the airport. “I will be running definitely.” “That’s a very weird question” Bolt said burying his head in his hands in disbelief. “Yes I am here to run I don’t see why else I would travel all this way to Glasgow.”
It was a rare probing inquiry at a news conference in Glasgow attended by many giddy reporters seemingly there to pay homage to the world’s fastest man and leave with personal mementos. Even for a Bolt briefing the level of sycophancy was high as futile attempts were made to present him with a kilt and pose for selfies. “I have to be honest” one Australian reporter said to Bolt from the floor of the conference room. “None of us are here for work we are actually here as fans. We were wondering if we could get a Channel Ten selfie with you.”
The request was quickly and politely rebuffed and the awkwardness was broken by a question on Bolt’s troublesome left foot.
“The injury has completely gone fitness wise I’ve done a lot of training over the past month” he said. “I’ve been really pushing myself and I’m in pretty good shape but I’m not yet in running shape hence why I’m running the heats just to get a few runs in.
“I won’t be doing a lot of races this season just four. I’m just taking my time trying to get myself into running shape but not to push myself too much and then get injured again. I’m focused on just getting through the season.”
Bolt’s appearance on the Hampden Park track in the 4x100 relay heats on Friday will be his first competitive action all year.
“As long as there’s athletes and there’s eight lanes there’s always competition” he said. “For me it’s something to add to my accolades over the years.”
A hamstring injury prevented Bolt appearing at the 2006 Melbourne Games and the logistically troubled Delhi Games were badly timed for him in October 2010.
“I got injured early in the season and at the end we decided we can’t make it to the trials but let’s see if we can run the 4x100. I was allowed to get into the team and that was good.”
Before racing at Hampden Park Bolt will try to stay out of the limelight but won’t be escaping the confines of the games.
“I always stay in the athletes villages. It’s always fun to be among the athletes and it makes you relax more and just enjoying to talk and to laugh and to bond with everyone” he said. “I try not to walk around the village too much because I tend to take a lot of pictures ... I stay in my room most of the time.
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