The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Usain Bolt reportedly describes the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as 'a bit s***'

Sports

By Afp | Jul 30, 2014

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt denied reports Wednesday that he called the Glasgow Commonwealth Games "a bit s***", ahead of his appearance in the 4x100 metres relay.

History's fastest man accused The Times newspaper of "creating lies to make headlines" after it reported he rubbished the 2014 Games while waiting for a car outside the athletes' village.

Asked whether he was having a good time in Glasgow, the Jamaican sprint star replied "not really" and said that the London 2012 Olympics "were better", according to The Times.

But Bolt's manager called the claims "rubbish" and the athlete himself took to Twitter to deny the report.

"I'm waking up to this nonsense... journalist please don't create lies to make headlines," he wrote.

Keep Reading

Bolt later turned up to watch Jamaica play New Zealand at netball, where he joined in with a Mexican wave and told reporters the Games were "awesome".

Angus Macleod, The Times's Scottish editor, said that the paper had "utter confidence" in the story and that the reporter has "verbatim notes" of her encounter with Bolt.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist is due to make his first appearance in the Commonwealth Games at the 4x100 metres heats on Friday, with the final on Saturday.

Organisers are already reeling from the withdrawal of top stars including double Olympic champion runner Mo Farah, cyclist Mark Cavendish and London 2012 heptathlon heroine Jessica Ennis-Hill, while Bolt will only appear in the relay event.

A Commonwealth Games Federation spokesman brushed off the reports, saying: "The Glasgow Games have so far been fantastic and everyone there, including the competing athletes, seems to be having a brilliant time."

Bolt's manager Ricky Simms earlier told the BBC that the reports were "utter rubbish".

"The atmosphere in and around the stadiums has been absolutely fantastic and I have absolutely no idea where these quotes have come from," he added.

Bolt arrived in Glasgow on Saturday, and endured an uncomfortable press conference in which he was asked questions about the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the Scottish independence debate.

Since then he has largely kept a low profile, but on Tuesday met Prince William, his wife Catherine and his brother Prince Harry.