Usain Bolt faces Scottish backlash after claiming Commonwealth Games were 'a bit sh**'

Usain Bolt was hit by a huge backlash today after apparently declaring that the Commonwealth Games were “a bit sh**”.

Politicians and prominent figures across Scotland led disapproval at the “insulting” and “disrespectful” remarks from the world’s fastest man - while others warned he could be booed when he competes in the 4x100m sprint relay tomorrow night.

He reportedly yesterday told a journalist outside the athletes’ village in Dalmarnock, east Glasgow, that he was “not really” having fun in Scotland and felt the Games were “a bit sh**” and not as good as the London Olympics.

Bolt, who met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry yesterday, chose not to compete in the 100m and will only feature as part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team.

Today former Olympic and Commonwealth champion Dame Kelly Holmes said: “I hope [Bolt’s comments] are not true. These Games have been brilliant. The Olympics are a massive event but the Commonwealth Games is the only other multi-sport event that there is on this scale. Glasgow have put on a tremendous Games.”

Scottish comedienne Janey Godley tweeted: “As we say in Glasgow ‘Oi U....BOLT’ #dontdissmycity.”

She told BBC 5 Live: “In his defence, Usain Bolt said the Games were rubbish. He never said Glasgow was rubbish.

“Maybe he is bored, because all they have had in Dalmarnock is the Royal family turn up. He hasn’t met the real folk.”

Shona Robison, Commonwealth Secretary in the Scottish Government, said the Games were “fantastic”. She said: “The feedback is that the athletes are having a great time. I think that speaks volumes of what the real story is about Glasgow and Scotland.”

The Glasgow newspaper the Evening Times said: “The world’s fastest man might want to make a speedy exit out of Glasgow after allegedly making remarks about the city’s Commonwealth Games.”

On Twitter, Bolt was mocked as a “pampered star”, with spoof versions of his Virgin Media adverts portraying him as a diva. But others said he was raising a fair point about the - at times - low standard of sport rather than the Games organisation or welcome from Glasgwegians.

Paul Hughes, an editor at STV [Scottish Television], tweeted: “As someone who plays in a Glasgow pub band, I fear @usainbolt may be about to discover what it feels like to lose the Glasgow audience.”