Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has been named an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The announcement of the eight-time Olympic gold medallist’s involvement in the short-format cricket tournament was made on Wednesday, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

According to the report Bolt, who had an interest in cricket before turning to athletics following the advice of his high school cricket coach, says he is looking forward to playing a part in the tournament, which is set to take place in the United States and the Caribbean from June 1 to 29.

“I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Bolt is quoted saying in an interview with the ICC recently.

“Coming from the Caribbean where cricket is a part of life, the sport has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honoured to be part of such a prestigious tournament. I look forward to bringing my energy and enthusiasm to the World Cup and contributing to the growth of cricket globally,” the retired sprinter added.

Bolt is looking forward to the usual party atmosphere that T20 is renowned for in the Caribbean, however, he is also watching to see the impact the sport will have in its first major venture into the American market, the ICC report said.

“America believes a lot in sport and high intensity and for me to get into that market is big,” Bolt said.

“When they follow a sport, they follow a sport properly and they go all in and I feel like if they can crack into it, they will get into it the right way. If we bring energy like I know we will for the T20 (World Cup) it is going to be wonderful,” he continued.

In addition to entering the American market come June, cricket will return to the Summer Olympics in 2028 for the first time since it appeared at the Games in 1990, the report revealed.

This development, the newly-minted ambassador said, is a huge achievement for the sport as other top athletes tend to beam with pride when they receive an Olympic gold medal, even after attaining other high accolades.

“If you listen to NBA players and the way they talk about winning a gold medal—they have won NBA titles, they have their rings— but they are like ‘we went to the Olympics’,” Bolt told the ICC.

“The other day I watched the documentary about how they (USA basketball team) lost (at the 2004 Olympics) and there was a Redeem Team (at the Beijing Games in 2008) and the focus and the hard work (they needed to win). That is how big (important) getting a gold medal is. Every sport tries to get into the Olympics because it is such a big thing and it is such a great feeling to be on a podium winning that gold medal,” he added.