Bolt visits FIFA president
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sprinting legend Usain Bolt visited football’s headquarters FIFA on Wednesday ahead of the IAAF Diamond League meeting Weltklasse Zürich Thursday evening at the Letzigrund Stadium in Switzerland.
He was greeted by FIFA President Joseph S Blatter and Fuleco, the official mascot for the next FIFA World Cup. Blatter presented Bolt with a FIFA No 9 shirt and an invitation to Brazil 2014.
“For years, he has dominated speed events,” said the FIFA President. “I’m very proud that this great gentleman is here today. He also showed again recently that the 4x100m is very important to him, which proves that he is a team player, just like in football,” said Blatter.
Bolt who recently turned 27 said he was pleased to visit the Home of FIFA for the first time. “For me, it’s an honour to be here today,” he said. “I follow football and today I saw the World Cup Trophy for the first time.”
FIFA invited the IAAF Diamond League organisers to hold their pre-meeting press conference with Bolt, in the auditorium of the home of FIFA, where all the football governing body’s important media events take place.
Bolt, meanwhile — already an all-time great in his sport — would like to follow the footsteps of legendary figures in other disciplines. “I would like to become a legend,” he said, “like Pele, Maradona, Muhammad Ali or Michael Johnson.”