KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says come “rain or shine”, the unveiling of the Usain Bolt statue will be done this Sunday.

The minister made the declaration yesterday after visiting the site on Statue Road in Independence Park where the sculpture will be mounted.

“We’re all set to unveil Usain Bolt’s statue…The base is now ready for mounting of the statue.  The statue will be mounted and will be in place for Sunday, December 3,” said Grange.

The statue — a lasting tribute to the world’s greatest sprinter — was due to be unveiled during Heritage Week in October, but the unveiling ceremony was postponed because of rain.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will unveil the statue in a special ceremony scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm.

The ceremony will be attended by several notable figures in local and international sports including Victor Lopez, the president of the North American Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association.

IAAF President Lord Coe will also participate in the ceremony.

“We’re getting a specially recorded message from Lord Coe, who was unable to come,” said Grange.

“We have an interesting programme lined up and Usain Bolt is looking forward to this event,” she continued.

The sculpture was designed by renowned Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson.

It is the first of four statues of national sports stars that were commissioned by the ministry under the Jamaica 55 Legacy Programme.  

Watson is also working on sculptures of Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Veronica Campbell Brown and Asafa Powell.