Usain Bolt runs in Commonwealth relay following claims he insulted the games

SPORTS

Bolt makes Commonwealth Games track debut

Rob Harris The Associated Press
Published Friday, August 1, 2014 5:39PM EDT

Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the finish line during the first round of the 4x100 relay during the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland, on Aug. 1, 2014. (AP/Frank Augstein)

Text:

GLASGOW -- If Scots were offended by Usain Bolt they didn't show it on Friday as the Jamaican sprint star made his track debut at the Commonwealth Games

Despite media reports that he was disparaging about Glasgow, Bolt's introduction to a 40,000-plus crowd at Hampden Park was greeted with a roar of cheers.

And Bolt gave them what they wanted to see, anchoring Jamaica's 4x100-meter team to a comfortable win in its heat as the favourite advanced to Saturday's final in 38.99 seconds.

"It was wonderful, it's just like the London Olympics -- the crowd was great," the six-time Olympic champion said. "It's just been wonderful."

Three days earlier, The Times of London quoted Bolt as saying that he was "not really" having fun in Glasgow, and using a word that derided the calibre of the games.

"I would never have used that word," Bolt said, discussing the story publicly for the first time. "I am enjoying it (in Glasgow), people have been so nice to me. I would never say anything like that. ... Everything has been good for me so far -- just (not) the weather."