Jamaica and the world's top two sprinters Usain Bolt (left) and Asafa Powell are seen during a news conference at the restaurant Victoria in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday. The two, Bolt, the world record holder and Powell, the former world record holder, will clash in the 100 metres at the DN Galan athletics meet at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, today. - AP

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP):

Usain Bolt is worried chilly weather could slow him down in the rematch between the world's two fastest men at the DN Galan athletics meet today.

The weather forecast calls for scattered clouds and temperatures at 14 degrees Celsius (57 F) at the time of the race.

"It's cold for me, I definitely prefer to run in warmer weather,'' Bolt said. "I'm from tropical Jamaica. I hope the weather changes."

A dozen sprinters in the field have personal bests of under 10 seconds in the 100 meters. Bolt set the world record of 9.72 seconds in New York on May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74. They last met at Jamaica's Olympic trials in late June. Both qualified for the Beijing Games.

Third straight victory

Powell is trying for a third straight victory at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium, where 83 world records - more than any other site in the world - have been broken since 1912.

Last year, Powell won the 100 at the DN Galan in 10.04. In 2006, he set the stadium record of 9.86.

Bolt hopes to break that mark.

"It would be nice to get a diamond," he said.

Each athlete that sets a stadium record receives a one-carat diamond worth US$10,000.

Powell thinks he can improve his stadium record and get another diamond.

"I can definitely break that record tomorrow," he said. "But he (Bolt) is very talented. He's the favourite. He's a cool person. We were friends even before the world record. So nothing has changed."

Powell pulled out of a meet in Paris three days ago because of groin cramp, but was able to train on Sunday.

"First, I was worried that it was something serious," he said. "I had some flashbacks because I've been injured before. But it wasn't serious (enough) from stopping me train.''

No complaints

Bolt arrived on Saturday and had no complaints when he worked out for the first time.

"The weather was good," he said. "I did some starts on another track."

The start is something he is trying to improve.

"My start and my first 35 metres, if there are any improvements to make it's there," Bolt said.