GENEVA - While Usain Bolt racks up the gold medals in Beijing, European track meet organizers are polishing the gold bars in anticipation of new records by the sport's newest superstar.
|
Jamaica's Usain Bolt runs in the men's 200m final at the National Stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 20, 2008. Bolt broke the men's 200 metres world record timing 19.30 seconds as he clinched the Olympic Games gold to add to his 100m crown. The Jamaican won ahead of Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles and Shawn Crawford of the US. [Agencies]
|
The 22-year-old Jamaican sprinter is set to compete at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich next week, where he can collect a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of gold and prize money worth a combined US$93,000 (euro63,000) if he breaks his 100-meter world record of 9.69 seconds.
After that, Bolt is staying in Switzerland to run the 200 at the September 2 Athletissima meet in Lausanne, where he can net another gold bar worth around US$27,000 (euro18,300) if he improves on his newly minted 19.30 mark.
By dominating the Olympic sprint events with devastating ease, Bolt has quickly become the new darling of international meet organizers.
Aside from increased bonuses, he can also expect to receive significantly higher appearance fees.
"In the contract, with the two world records, maybe we can pay $30,000 more," Athletissima spokesman Pierre-Andre Pasche said Thursday.
"For us it is very important. He is the superstar of the Olympic Games and we expect to fill all the stadium with people coming to see Usain Bolt."
Some 14,000 are expected in Lausanne for the meet, and Zurich's 25,000-seat Letzigrund stadium is sold out for Bolt's first competition after the Olympics.
Weltklasse meet director Patrick Magyar said it may not take long for Bolt to break his 100 mark - which he set in Saturday's final despite showboating for the last 20 meters.
"I still think he has the potential to improve the 100 by quite a bit to get it to the same level he is running the 200," Magyar said.
"There is, of course, a very nice bonus available if you run a world record in Zurich."
Weltklasse said it is offering a US$50,000 (euro34,000) record bonus on top of US$16,000 (euro10,900) for winning a race.
A Swiss bank sponsor has promised the gold bars.
Long recognized for fast times, the Zurich track is expected to run even quicker since being resurfaced during stadium renovations last year.