Usain Bolt to race NRL superstars
* By David Riccio
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* June 20, 2010 12:01AM
HE HAS offered advice to footballing royalty Cristiano Ronaldo, trained with Manchester United and idolises former Australian Test cricketer Matthew Hayden.
But Olympic champion Usain Bolt has never raced Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne or Melbourne superstars Greg Inglis and Billy Slater.
But The Sunday Telegraph can reveal organisers of the Athletic All Stars meet on September 15 at Sydney Olympic Park are negotiating with Bolt's management team to bring the 100m and 200m world record holder down under.
The Jamaican sprinter has never raced in Australia and this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of world sport's biggest stars.
Bolt's arrival in Sydney would be one of Australian sport's greatest coups - even at an estimated asking price of $1 million.
Billed as an athletics version of Twenty20 cricket by event organisers Competitive Edge, the night would also end one of rugby league's greatest debates - who is the fastest man in the NRL?
The Sunday Telegraph understands that after more than three months of top-level talks, discussions between organisers and Bolt are now at an advanced stage.
"No, I can't deny there have been talks," meet director Hayden Knowles said.
"The discussions have been very positive, great actually.
"His manager is first class and a very nice man, a man who has been with Usain from a very young age and who truly cares for him like family. I really respect that.
"We plan on making this the most entertaining night ever seen of its kind. We plan to inspire and entertain, so if that is our mission of course we would want Usain Bolt.
"That is what he does, he would set the city alight without a doubt.
"We want this to happen, we think we have the resources and we are working extremely hard to make it happen.
"Often in life and sport, you get rewarded for hard work."
The mere possibility of Bolt, whose 100m world record stands at 9.58sec, lining up against the likes of Hayne, Inglis, Slater and Penrith's Michael Jennings would be enough to excite every league fan.
So just imagine how Hayne feels about the prospect.
"The guy is a superstar, I love watching him on and off the track," Hayne said.
"If I wasn't playing league I would love to do what he does.
"Just meeting him would be awesome ... running against him would be a memory I would never forget. How many people could one day tell their grandkids they raced against Usain Bolt?"
The event will also give fans an opportunity to farewell some of Australia's athletes before the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October.
Headline music acts will perform on the night.
Organisers are also trying to lure Bulldogs sensation and former junior discus champion Jamal Idris to compete against Australia's current world discus champion Dani Samuels.
