Usain Bolt star of the 2012 Compeed Golden Gala

Rome again, for the second time in a row. Usain Bolt, the triple Olympic, double World champion and triple World record holder, will be the star of the Compeed Golden Gala, third leg of the 2012 edition of the Samsung Diamond League IAAF, to be held in the Olympic stadium of the Italian Capital city on 31st May. The Jamaican athletics star will be competing in the 100m, the same race he won last year in Rome in 9.91.

“I am looking forward to returning to Rome and to be back on the fast track of the Stadio Olimpico for the Golden Gala – said Bolt commenting the news about his participation to the Roman meeting – I have great memories of last year’s edition: it was my first time running in Italy, and I enjoyed the fantastic crowd at the Stadium”.

A global attendance of 47,732 spectators was reached last 26 of May, in a night that Italian athletics will probably remember for a long time.

“Someone told me it was the biggest crowd for athletics in the last ten years: something that made me really happy. I remember the huge coverage from media there, the press conference I had two days before the race was one of the biggest I ever had outside the Olympics or World Champs. I didn’t get to see much of the city, maybe I will get to see some more this year”.

“I’m training hard, the off season has been good. Everything is going according to plan. The aim is to defend my Olympic titles in London. Rome’s race will be a good early season test and tell me what I need to do on the way to the Olympic Games”.

The participation of Usain Bolt to the Compeed Golden Gala was announced this morning by President of FIDAL (the Italian Federation of Athletics) Franco Arese, and President of CONI (the Italian Olympic Committee) Gianni Petrucci, the leading actors of the two bodies organizing the World meeting. “We are delighted by the presence of a global star like Bolt in Rome, at the beginning of the Olympic season”, said both Arese and Petrucci.

CONI General Secretary Raffaele Pagnozzi, Compeed Golden Gala General Director Diego Nepi Molineris and Meeting Director Anna Riccardi were among other authorities attending to the media meeting. Ticketing campaign and promotional plans, involving, by the others, boys and girls from the schools of the city, were also presented. Rome targets another unforgettable athletics night.