PARIS, France:
JAMAICAN and West Indian track and field fans at the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships expressed disappointment with the non-appearance of teenage sensation Usain Bolt in the men's 200 metres.
Three who turned up last Tuesday were shocked that Bolt, whom many came to see run and possibly win a medal, was not among those entered for the half-lap event.
Winston James of Mandeville, an administrative officer with the United Nations in Geneva, said his main reason for taking time-off to travel to Paris was to see the 17-year-old world junior 200m champion in action.
"I am highly disappointed," James said while in company with his Trinidad and Tobago friend Glenton Gill who is assigned to the United Nations mission in Moscow.
James added: "I came all the way here to watch Usain (Bolt) run the 200m because I thought he was one of Jamaica's best hopes for a medal. To hear that he is not running is a huge letdown."
According to James, Jamaica has 'disappointed the world.'
"All my constituents here in France, including my brother-in-law former French athlete Jude Gisors, were anticipating the arrival of 'Mr. Bolt'. Jude has been following his career ever since he heard about him."
James added that Gill, Gisors and himself had bought a block of tickets close to the finish line in the hope of having a close-up look at Bolt in the
62,000 capacity Stade de France.
Several journalists were making inquiries about Bolt since the start of the championships and were surprised that he did not compete.
Bolt went to the championships with the Jamaican team but he was
withdrawn from the 200 metres after it was felt that he was not in condition to meet the rigours of the rounds here.
The William Knibb High student had missed several days of training just prior to the start of the championships.
Jamaica started three competitors in the 200 metres but only Ricardo Williams advanced to the semi-finals. Chris Williams, a silver medalist at the 2001 championships in Edmonton and Latonel Williams were eliminated in the second round.
