Retired American track star Justin Gatlin says Jamaica is the ideal place to kickstart the innovative Grand Slam Track series.

“I think when you’re going to try something that’s new, that’s going to help revolutionise the sport, you start where the most excitement is, the biggest fanfare is, the toughest competition — that’s Jamaica,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“So, you want to make sure that if it’s going to work here, it’s going to work anywhere,” he added.

The 43-year-old Gatlin, who won the 2004 100m Olympic gold in Athens, Greece and the 100/200 sprint double at the 2005 World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, is regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time with a personal best of 9.74 in the 100m, making him the fifth fastest-ever over the distance.

Gatlin said this inaugural Grand Slam Track series is not just about points or money, it’s about competing for bragging rights and pride while enhancing the sport.

“I was saying earlier, I think me and Asafa come from that era where we were grand slamming before grand slam was even around,” said Gatlin, while attending a media session at the AC Hotel in St Andrew.

“I mean, we were lining up all over the world against each other. So, with that being said, we understand what high competition looks like. What real talent on the track looks like and really diving for the line, not just for points, but for pride,” he pointed out.

“So that’s what I think we’re going to see out here on this track. Each individual knows that it’s not going to be a cakewalk. It’s going to be real competition. It’s going to be really exciting,” Gatlin reiterated.

Gatlin has been the bane of Jamaican fans for a number of years when he took on the best that the island had to offer including Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter.

It was an era when Jamaica was fighting to impose itself on world sprinting and wrestle the dominance away from the mighty United States. It developed a rivalry, second to none, between both countries despite the difference in sizes.

But now, because of his openness, genuine love, and appreciation for Jamaica’s prowess, Gatlin has been accepted by most and is a close friend of Powell, who has hosted him at his home on several occasions.

Gatlin, who said he is eager to have a look at the newly-laid National Stadium track, is not perturbed that the Grand Slam Series will not be in the lucrative European market.

“Not in this day and age. I mean, obviously, with streaming, different platforms that you could be able to still interact with the meet,” he explained

“I don’t see that as an issue right now that it’s not in Europe. But the fact is, even if it’s not in Europe, people from Europe should be able to still want to promote it and cheer it on because, as it grows, it will get into the European market and what it stands for is going to grow soon,” he added.