Bolt to open season on May 5

Olympic champion Usain Bolt will officially open his season at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet on May 5. Bolt's appearance was announced at a press conference to promote the meeting, set for the national stadium in Kingston. "It is always a great privilege to run in front of my home fans," double world record-holder Bolt said on his website of competing in the IAAF world challenge-level meeting. "There is always great energy and excitement in the stadium and I will look to put on a good show for the fans. "This will be my first big meet of 2012 as I prepare to defend my titles in the Olympic Games in London in August," added Bolt, who has already been confirmed for the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Golden Gala in Rome and Bislett Games in Oslo. According to organiser Donald Quarrie, Bolt is one of seven athletes signed on for the ninth edition of the event. Bolt, the reigning 100m and 200m Olympic champion, pulled out of two local meetings earlier this year as his 2012 season pointed at the London Games got off to a slow start. "We finalize everything this week with Bolt," said Quarrie, who didn't specify what events Bolt would contest. Both men's sprints, 100m and 200m will be on the day's card. World 100m champion Yohan Blake and former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell are also slated to compete at the Jamaica International. Blake said in a recent interview that coach Glen Mills had yet to decide which events he and Bolt would run at the meeting, but that they wouldn't race each other. It seems likely, however, that Powell would face one or the other in the men's 100m. Meanwhile, two other world champions, Carmelita Jeter and Kirani James, will return to the meeting, and Olympic 100m and 400m hurdles champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Melaine Walker are also scheduled to compete.