Usain Bolt to jump-start athletics in Australia at Nitro Summer League

EXCLUSIVE: Athletics Australia is set to make Usain Bolt the face of its new Big Bash League-style athletics series early next year.

ATHLETICS Australia is set to make Usain Bolt the face of its new Big Bash League-style athletics series early next year.

Negotiations have been ongoing for several months with Bolt’s management team, and the Olympic 100m champion shapes as the gold-plated drawcard for the Nitro Summer Athletics League which will be launched in February.

It’s likely Bolt, who will chase the 200m title in Rio on Friday morning (AEST) would only compete as part of a relay team. But such is his global standing, his presence would almost single-handedly ensure the concept’s success.

Usain Bolt will become the face of a special Big Bash-style athletics league in Australia. Picture: Brett Costello

AA president Mark Arbib and chief executive Phil Jones are in Rio and it is understood a heads of agreement has been drawn up with Bolt’s team although it has yet to be signed off. It is believed that Bolt’s asking price will be at least $1 million.

The fastest man in the world has indicated he will continue his career for one last season, most likely saying goodbye at next year’s world championships in London.

Former Commonwealth 400m champion John Steffensen, who joined the AA board earlier this month, is playing a key role in trying to land the Jamaican superstar given his personal friendship with Bolt.

Athletics Australia have appointed consultants to seek out major commercial sponsors to raise the money required to get Bolt to Australia.

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His fee is likely to be a significant six-figure sum but the publicity and exposure associated with having the world’s most famous sportsman at the new event is seen as being worth every cent.

The response from a number of blue-chip companies has been positive while Olympic broadcaster Channel Seven is believed to have indicated they would be willing to telecast the series in prime time.

The ‘Nitro’ concept is the brainchild of Arib who took over the presidency last year with a determination to make the sport more TV-friendly.

It will be faster-paced, lasting no more than two hours with one event taking place at a time.

Usain Bolt after his 100m win at Rio. Picture: Brett Costello

More notably, it will be team-based, most likely along country lines with Bolt representing Jamaica against an Australian team spearheaded by Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson.

There would be eight mixed sides of 28 to 32 athletes who will earn points for an overall winner. The series will run for a month with four events across Australia. Melbourne and Sydney are expected to be two of the venues.

There will also be non-competing captains which can bring big names from other sports into the event.

Bolt visited Australia after his success at the London 2012 Olympics and partied with Steffensen in Sydney.

A big cricket fan, the seven-time Olympic gold medallist has always spoken about much he loves Australia, the climate and the people.

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Originally published as Usain Bolt to jump-start athletics in Australia at Nitro Summer League