Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates victory and a new world record in the men's 4x100 metres relay final (© Getty Images)
Exciting news for athletics fans in Zurich: Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt will be part of the cast of Weltklasse Zürich this year. Thevpenultimate stop on the Samsung Diamond League series, scheduled for Thursday, 30 August, will once again play host to one of the the Samsung Diamond League finals.
"It will be great to be back at Weltklasse Zürich. I have great memories of the fantastic organisation and passionate crowd at the Letzigrund Stadium," Bolt said. "Zurich is often called the one day Olympics and I expect this year to be a very special meeting 18 days after the London Games."
On 30 August, the sprint superstar will be in the Zurich line-up for the fifth time. Even before his rise to fame, Bolt – who is a towering 1.95m tall - placed second in the men’s 200m in 2006 and 2007. Bolt then went on to win the 100m races in 2008 and 2009. Both these triumphal races came on the heels of historic achievements: an Olympic title at the Games in Beijing and another gold medal at the World Championships in Berlin.
Whether he will run the 100m or the 200m race in Zurich remains to be decided. Both sprint events will be staged this year; the men’s 200m race will be a Diamond Race final.
"Usain is the most popular track and field star of the millennium. We are delighted to have him back in Zurich, and to be able to open the official ticket sale with such great news for the fans," said Patrick K. Magyar, Meeting Director of Weltklasse Zürich. The early confirmation is also related the date of the Weltklasse Zürich meeting this summer. "2012 will be a very special edition of our meeting. Zurich will be held 18 days after the Olympic Games - an ideal date in the outdoor competition calendar. This will help us present high-level fields in all our events."
Organisers for the IAAF
"It will be great to be back at Weltklasse Zürich. I have great memories of the fantastic organisation and passionate crowd at the Letzigrund Stadium," Bolt said. "Zurich is often called the one day Olympics and I expect this year to be a very special meeting 18 days after the London Games."
On 30 August, the sprint superstar will be in the Zurich line-up for the fifth time. Even before his rise to fame, Bolt – who is a towering 1.95m tall - placed second in the men’s 200m in 2006 and 2007. Bolt then went on to win the 100m races in 2008 and 2009. Both these triumphal races came on the heels of historic achievements: an Olympic title at the Games in Beijing and another gold medal at the World Championships in Berlin.
Whether he will run the 100m or the 200m race in Zurich remains to be decided. Both sprint events will be staged this year; the men’s 200m race will be a Diamond Race final.
"Usain is the most popular track and field star of the millennium. We are delighted to have him back in Zurich, and to be able to open the official ticket sale with such great news for the fans," said Patrick K. Magyar, Meeting Director of Weltklasse Zürich. The early confirmation is also related the date of the Weltklasse Zürich meeting this summer. "2012 will be a very special edition of our meeting. Zurich will be held 18 days after the Olympic Games - an ideal date in the outdoor competition calendar. This will help us present high-level fields in all our events."
Organisers for the IAAF
