10th June 2013 – Usain Bolt today became the first athlete announced for the 2014 Malmo Games on 19th August 2014.
Press release from the organiser on www.malmogames.com –
It has been many years since there was a leading international athletic competition in Malmo, Sweden, but now that time has arrived. Tuesday August 19, 2014 will be the start of the new meeting Malmo Games. An athletic competition of international top class with the athletic club MAI and the newly formed foundation Malmo Athletic International as organisers. The star attraction of the meet is already confirmed, the worlds best athlete Usain Bolt from Jamaica. He has never before committed to a meet so far ahead, so it gives us extra pleasure to be able to announce his participation at this new athletic meet.
Usain Bolt says: ”It is very unusual for me to commit to a meet so far ahead, but I like to support new meets and I’m looking forward to be a part of Malmö Games and competing there in August 2014.”
The initiative to start Malmo Games was suggested by Bengt Bendéus, who also was the founder and chairman of the international meetings in Malmo during the 80’s and 90’s, in cooperation with Rajne Soderberg, former meeting director of DN Galan in Stockholm. MAI is the technical organizer, and the identity that applies for the permit. The foundation Malmo Athletic International has apart from Bendéus and Soderberg the members Lasse Johnson, long-time leader in the athletic club MAI and Daniel Wessfeldt, well known sports agent. Collectively they have experience of organising over 100 athletic meetings.
