DESPITE the Jamaican Government rejecting to host matches for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup this summer, one of the country’s biggest-ever stars Usain Bolt says he’s excited to be part of the tournament after being named an ambassador.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist and 11-time World Champion joins fellow Jamaican and former West Indies superstar Chris Gayle as ambassadors for the June 1-29 showpiece which will be held in the Caribbean and the USA.

Bolt, who played cricket during his time at William Knibb High before focusing on athletics, says he’s looking forward to a thrilling tournament.

“I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” he told the ICC. “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.”

For the first time ever the USA will host an international cricket tournament, with matches set for New York, Florida and Texas.

The world’s fastest man who set the first of his many sprint records on American soil in 2008, says cricket can make a big impact in the US.

“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.”

Bolt, regarded as one of the greatest Olympians ever, says the reintroduction of cricket at the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028 will be special.

“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.’ The other day I watched the documentary about how they [USA basketball team] lost [at the 2004 Olympics], and there was a Redeem Team [in Beijing 2008] and the focus and the hard work [they needed to win] — that is how big getting a gold medal is,” he said. “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.”

The Rovman Powell-led West Indies, who failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the last two tournaments, will look to add to their two titles as host nation.

Matches for the month-long tournament will be played in Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States.