Bolt to take part in relay heats

Fans will be treated to a double dose of Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games, as the world’s fastest man arrived in Glasgow.

A large crowd gathered to cheer and take pictures of the athlete as he touched down at the city’s airport on Saturday afternoon.

The Jamaican will compete in the 4x100m relay on the final day of the athletics at Hampden Park, with the Olympic champion also confirming he will run in the heats.

The arrival of the star is regarded as hugely important for the athletics in Glasgow, given that Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be absent.

The 27-year-old has yet to race this year after taking time to recover from a foot injury, but told a packed press conference the problem had ”completely gone” and he was in ”pretty good shape”.

His desire to get races under his belt means he will take to the track next Friday for the relay heats and Saturday for the final – provided, of course, his Jamaican team get the baton round.

”I will be running in the heats – I think I need the runs, really, because this is my first run of the season, so I really need to get it going,” the six-time Olympic champion said.

”The injury is completely gone. Fitness-wise I have done a lot of training over this past month – I have been really pushing myself. I think I am in pretty good shape, but I’m not in running shape – that’s why I am running the heats, just to get a few runs in.

He has eight world titles and six Olympic gold medals, having won the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m in Beijing and then again in London two years ago but he explained today what it meant to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking at a media conference held shortly after his arrival, Bolt said: ” ‘For me it was very important (to be here).

”I expressed it to my coach and I am happy to be here. I have always wanted to compete in the Games. The first one in Australia (in 2006) I strained my hamstring and in 2010 in India it was in October, which is a bad time for me.

”I got injured earlier in this season and I didn’t want to take anyone’s spot so I decided ‘why not just come in the 4x100m?”’

He added: “As long as there are athletes and eight lanes there is always competition because I think everybody works hard and I respect everybody and take everybody seriously.”

He faced a series of questions ranging from whether he had ever worn a kilt to a request for a selfie with a news crew to his views on the referendum on Scottish independence.

Speaking about what he expected from the host city, he said: “A lot of rain maybe and seeing a lot of kilts around the place.”

Bolt said watching the Jamaican netball team compete was on his to-do list while in Glasgow and he also confirmed he would be staying in the athletes’ village.

“It’s always fun to be among the athletes and it makes you relax more just enjoying the 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 will definitely move around to see how the village is set up and stuff like that but I will stay in my room most of the time.”

Earlier Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said Bolt’s presence at the Games was ”fantastic”.

He said: ”We’ve got quality athletes that want to come here and want to be part of this and it’s great that he’s going to be here.”

Bolt added: “I live for the fans, when I go on the track I want the fans to enjoy my performance always, so for me I always try to bring the energy because I want to feed off their energy also. I’m definitely going out there for a good performance and trying to put on a show for the fans.”

There were 29 gold medals up for the taking today, with medal events in track cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming, triathlon, and weightlifting.

Rugby Sevens competitions also got under way at Ibrox, where Scotland pushed New Zealand all the way in a 17-14 loss, Wales beat Malaysia 52-0 and England beat Sri Lanka 57-0.

Hosts Scotland will play top seeds Malaysia and England will take on surprise quarter-finalists Sri Lanka in the last eight of the Commonwealth Games team event.

Saturday’s action has already seen Wales’ Francesca Jones enjoy a golden send off from gymnastics as she ended her career with the top prize in the women’s individual ribbon.

There was gold too for England whose dream team made it a clean sweep of gold medals in the triathlon with a dominant victory in the mixed relay.

Vicky Holland, Jonny Brownlee, Jodie Stimpson and Alistair Brownlee were all medallists in the individual events on Thursday, with the latter two winning gold.

Scottish pair Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean will have the chance for a second gold in as many days at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome after reaching the final of the sprint B tandem.

At the judo Scotland flag bearer Euan Burton and wife Gemma Gibbons, representing England, will both fight for gold in the final judo session on Saturday night.

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Bolt to take part in relay heats