Bolt tackles 200m in Oslo

OSLO - Usain Bolt, the double world and Olympic sprint champion, makes his Norwegian bow at today's Bislett Games, appearing in a 200m for the first time this season.

The 24-year-old Jamaican, who set a world record time of 19.19 seconds when winning the 200 at the 2009 worlds in Berlin, has enjoyed a successful run over 100m so far this year. He won the Rome leg of the Diamond League (9.93sec) and the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava (9.91), notably beating in-form compatriot Steve Mullings in the process.

"I'm here for the first time. I don't know a lot about this country," Bolt said on touching down in Oslo ahead of today's meet. "I've heard that the track is very fast in Oslo, but I do not know it. Until now, I've never run here. I will give 100percent. The 200m is my race," added the Jamaican, who, on paper, has little competition to worry about.

Bolt acknowledges that his aim this year is to defend his world titles in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the August 27-September 4 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, admitting that results until then do not count for much.

"I'm focused on the worlds, it doesn't matter if I lose all other events before that competition," he said.

Bolt said he was not concerned by forecasts of overcast weather and possibly rain today.

"I did some good races in adverse weather conditions." - Sapa-AFP