Jamaica’s top tourism officials the Honourable Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment and Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism have hailed Bolt’s triumph in the men’s 100m at IAAF World Championships in Beijing. Both McNeill and Pennicook had high praises for the sprint king who had a challenging year in preparing for the World Championships.
The pride of Jamaica was once again on display for the entire world as Bolt, the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist edged Gatlin, the year’s fastest man in the finals of the blue-riband event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing on Sunday. In 9.79 seconds, the Jamaican sensation narrowly beat Gatlin by 0.01 seconds in the long awaited match up of the sport’s top two athletes. The victory snaps Gatlin’s two year, 28 race win streak.
“We are extremely elated to congratulate our native son, Usain Bolt, on his 9.79 clocking to win the world 100m title in Beijing,” said the Honourable Wykeham McNeill, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment. “Being touted as perhaps his greatest miracle of all, he beat American, Justin Gatlin, to retain his world 100m title, and as he said he would…he brought it home! His victory has placed him level with Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene having now won three 100m world titles in 2009, 2013 and 2015. Jamaicans everywhere are proud today!”
Inside the same stadium where he romped home to victory in 2008, winning two Olympic gold medals and setting two world records, Bolt rose to the occasion silencing many of his critics who doubted his form, ahead of the Championships.
“It’s a great win for the undisputed sprint king and we are happy that he was able to put his early season struggles behind him to snatch victory,” noted Paul Pennicook, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “Bolt has represented Jamaica with great distinction and we are proud to share in his successes.”
Bolt will look to complete the sprint double at the Bird’s Nest when he takes to the track on Tuesday for the heats of the men’s 200m.
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006 to 2014. Also in 2014, Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote for the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination for the eighth consecutive year. Additionally, the Historic Falmouth Cruise Port was recognized as the Caribbean’s Leading Heritage Tour while Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Airport. In Canada, Jamaica was voted the Favourite Honeymoon Destination by Travel Agents.
JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai and Tokyo.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaica, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/visitjamaicanow, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/visitjamaica, on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/myjamaica, or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/myjamaicajtb. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.