Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Usain Bolt greets fans at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday on his return to the island for the first time since his exploits in Beijing, China. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

THE EUPHORIA surrounding Usain Bolt's success at the Beijing Olympics will not be allowed to die, Prime Minister Bruce Golding promised yesterday on the return of the superstar athlete to the island.

Bolt, who won three gold medals in world-record fashion at the Beijing Games in China, returned home to streets overflowing with ecstatic Jamaicans.

The locals braved the afternoon rains just to get a touch of their hero, who received several scratches from the nails of adoring fans.

Golding described the behaviour towards Bolt as love and told the 22-year-old sprinter how much he is adored by locals.

"What it does say to you is that you have captured the heart of the Jamaican people, you have captured their love and attention," Golding said.

The world-record holder for the 100 metres and 200 metres was taken on a motorcade from the Norman Manley International Airport to The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The motorcade travelled east along Mountain View avenue, along Arthur Wint Drive, then to Oxford Road before using the Knutsford Boulevard to get into The Pegasus.

The prime minister was more than impressed by the way Jamaicans came out to meet the man nicknamed Lightning Bolt.

"The last time I saw people come out like that along that route was when Nelson Mandela was here in 1990. I have not seen that sort of response since," Golding said.

No squandering

The prime minister later told The Gleaner that the Government would not squander the social capital associated with Bolt.

"There are programmes that have already been developed for that and we plan to roll that out round about the time when the celebrations take place," Golding said.

Bolt, who said he was glad to be home, had a message for wrongdoers.

"It is just unity," Bolt said when asked about what his message was to gunmen who have contributed immensely to the nearly 1,200 murders in Jamaica thus far.

"I think that we need to keep letting them know to keep positive and to work hard. There are a lot of ways (to get what you want in life) instead of resorting to violence," Bolt said, while underscoring the value of hard work.

Bolt also said he plans to make charitable donations, but noted that he had not had the time to determine when and who would benefit from his generosity.

Sports Minister Olivia Grange, however, has her eyes set on his record-breaking shoes.

Sporting museum

"We want those spikes," Grange told Bolt while announcing plans to have a sporting museum here.

A country with a rich sporting history, Jamaica won 11 medals (six gold, three silver and two bronze) in Beijing.

It was the country's best-ever achievement at the Games. The previous best was seven medals in Sydney in 2000.

The Government has said that there are plans afoot to stage four days of celebration to honour the athletes for their achievements. The celebrations are to commence on October 3 when the other athletes return home.

The celebration will see a motorcade taking the athletes through the Corporate Area and will culminate with a massive salute at the National Stadium.

There will also be a series of other activities, including a motorcade in western Jamaica as well as community visits by the athletes.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

Artist Delroy Haye (left) presents track and field sensation, Usain Bolt, with a portrait of the Olympian in action during a welcome reception and press conference held for Bolt at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer