The six-time Olympic champion, who has also won eight world titles and remains the world record holder over 100 and 200 metres, entered the stage alongside Clyde the Mascot and six local schoolchildren, and posed for the obligatory "lightning bolt" before fielding questions from by far the largest press corps yet seen at these Games.

Although Bolt is not competing in either of his two individual event here, he confirmed he would participate in the heats for the 4x100m relay as well as the final, meaning there is no prospect of his team-mates failing to qualify and him being unable to run.

"For me it was very important [to be here]," he said.

"I expressed it to my coach and I am happy to be here.

"I have always wanted to compete in the Games, the first one in Australia [at Melbourne in 2006] I strained my hamstring and in [Delhi] 2010 in India it was in October, which is a bad time for me.

"I got injured earlier in this season and I didn't want to take anyone's spot so I decided, 'Why not just come in the 4x100m?'"

Usain Bolt poses with schoolchildren...and Clyde the Mascot ©Getty Images



In a somewhat bizarre 30 minute appearance, Bolt was forced to deal with a huge variety of left field questions, ranging from requests to pose for selfies with journalists, to his views on the situation in Gaza and on the question of Scottish Independence.

Bolt, who has barely raced since taking triple gold at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, was also asked what he was expecting of Scotland in a week-long visit in which he will stay in the Athletes' Village.

"A lot of rain maybe and seeing a lot of kilts around the place," was his response.

Bolt appeared most taken aback by a request to confirm, once and for all, whether he was 100 per cent planning to race this week.

He briefly sunk his hand into his hands before replying that he certainly was.

"That's a very weird question," he said, "I am definitely here to run."

" Why else would I travel all this way to Glasgow? "

A strange question it may have been, but it also revealed just how important the 27-year-old is to these Games, particularly in the absence of English stars Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill, as well as fellow Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake.

Speaking earlier today, Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive, Mike Hooper, reiterated that it was "fantastic" that Bolt was present.

"We've got quality athletes that want to come here and want to be part of this and it's great that he's going to be here," he said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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