Sprint wunderkind Usain Bolt will be welcomed with a lavish motorcade and reception when he returns to Jamaica today for the first time since his heroics at the Beijing Olympics last month.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and Sports Minister Olivia Grange will meet Bolt on the tarmac as he steps off a Virgin Atlantic flight scheduled to arrive at the Norman Manley Inter-national Airport, Kingston, at 1:15 p.m.

Historic wins

Bolt created history when he became the first man to win the Olympic 100m and 200m in world-record time. He also ran the third leg on Jamaica's gold medal-winning 4x100m relay team.

Weather permitting, the 22-year-old sprint sensation is expected to be transported in a spanking-new red BMW convertible to The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Grange is to host a press conference to give local and international media a chance to speak with Jamaica's newest hero.

Bolt's welcome will launch the start of several activities planned by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports to commence in October when all other members of Jamaica's Beijing Olympic team return to the island on a special flight.

Floats and effigies

They will lead a motorcade through the streets of Kingston, accompanied by specially designed floats and effigies of the medal winners.

Details of these official celebrations are to be announced.

"We have had short notice, but we are pulling out all the stops to make this celebration a fitting tribute to the glory our Olympic athletes have brought to Jamaica," Grange said. "We want to show our pride and our gratitude to these young men and women of Jamaica, and to showcase them as role models for our youth, and symbols of excellence for our entire population at home and abroad."

Motorcade route to the Pegasus

Depart tarmac at Norman Manley International Airport - escorted through Gate 1.

Turn left at Harbour View roundabout.

East to Mountain View Avenue.

Left on Arthur Wint Drive

Right on Tom Redcam Avenue

Across traffic light on to Oxford Road.

Right on to Knutsford Boulevard to entrance of Jamaica Pegasus.