Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell is the first big name to be confirmed for next April’s Grenada Invitational.
The inaugural event, set for April 8, 2017, at the Grenada National Stadium, will attract several word stars.
Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell made the announcement on Friday during the presentation of the 2017 budget.
Dr Mitchell said that Powell’s confirmation is an indication of the calibre of track and field stars expected to compete in the first major athletic event on the 2017 calendar.
The Prime Minister said that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) will be making further announcements of other confirmed competitors but he is happy that some of the athletes, who brought pride and joy to the Caribbean, have agreed to compete for the first time in Grenada.
“Of the many athletes expected to compete at this inaugural event, former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica has confirmed his participation,” Dr Mitchell elaborated following the budget presentation.
“The Grenada Invitational, a private partnership initiative and supported by the Government, will provide Grenadians with an opportunity to see for the first time on local shores, elite international athletes competing at the National Athletic Stadium,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the LOC has been working with Bahamian Olympian Chris Brown who has been negotiating with some of the top international athletes.
Powell, the holder of two Olympic Games 4x100m titles (2008) and 2016), had his world record marks of 9.77 and 9.74 between 2005 and 2008.
The sprinter, who has a personal best of 9.72, also helped Jamaica to two World Championships 4x100m titles in 2009 and 2015. He won bronze in the 100m event at the Osaka and Berlin World Championships in 2007 and 2009 respectively.
Powell won Commonwealth Games 100m and 4x100m titles in 2006.
