<p>Triple Olympic and world champion sprinter Bolt’s coach Glen Mills said on Saturday that the Commonwealth Games were not part of the Jamaican’s schedule, and came at a time when he would be doing his base training for next year’s World Championships.<br /><br />OC secretary Lalit Bhanot, however, said they were still hopeful of Bolt competing in the mega event.<br /><br />“We don’t have any official communication from the Jamaican NOC on whether Bolt will participate or not, but we believe he will take part in the Games,” Bhanot said.<br />“More than 150 athletes from Jamaica will take part in the Games. <br /><br />“The Jamaican National Olympic Committee has sent the number of athletes and they will send the list of athletes by the cut-off date of September 3. Before that, we will not know anything,” he added.<br /><br />Bhanot said the OC could even explore the possibility of using the good offices of Commonwealth Games Federation chief Fennell, who is also the Jamaican Olympic Association president, to ensure Bolt’s participation in the Games.<br /><br />“Of course, we will definitely look into the option of requesting Mr Fennell to help us in regard to Bolt’s participation,” said Bhanot, who is also the Secretary of the Athletic Federation of India. He, however, denied any talk of the OC offering any appearance fee to Bolt for his participation. <br /><br />“There is no question of giving appearance fee,” he said. On Saturday, Mills had said Bolt was aware long back that he wasn’t going to compete in the Commonwealth Games as it arrived very late in the season.<br /></p>
<p>Triple Olympic and world champion sprinter Bolt’s coach Glen Mills said on Saturday that the Commonwealth Games were not part of the Jamaican’s schedule, and came at a time when he would be doing his base training for next year’s World Championships.<br /><br />OC secretary Lalit Bhanot, however, said they were still hopeful of Bolt competing in the mega event.<br /><br />“We don’t have any official communication from the Jamaican NOC on whether Bolt will participate or not, but we believe he will take part in the Games,” Bhanot said.<br />“More than 150 athletes from Jamaica will take part in the Games. <br /><br />“The Jamaican National Olympic Committee has sent the number of athletes and they will send the list of athletes by the cut-off date of September 3. Before that, we will not know anything,” he added.<br /><br />Bhanot said the OC could even explore the possibility of using the good offices of Commonwealth Games Federation chief Fennell, who is also the Jamaican Olympic Association president, to ensure Bolt’s participation in the Games.<br /><br />“Of course, we will definitely look into the option of requesting Mr Fennell to help us in regard to Bolt’s participation,” said Bhanot, who is also the Secretary of the Athletic Federation of India. He, however, denied any talk of the OC offering any appearance fee to Bolt for his participation. <br /><br />“There is no question of giving appearance fee,” he said. On Saturday, Mills had said Bolt was aware long back that he wasn’t going to compete in the Commonwealth Games as it arrived very late in the season.<br /></p>