As reported on insidethegames yesterday, Glen Mills has ruled out Bolt competing in the Games, which are due to open on October 3, because they come too late in the year and he will already have started his training for next year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, where he will be defending the 100 and 200 metres he won in Berlin last year.

Delhi officials are hoping that Mike Fennell, the Jamaican-born President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), will use his influence to persuade the world record holder to compete.

Lalit Bhanot, the secretary of the organising committee, said: "He [Bolt] will surely come.

"There is still a lot of time left and we are confident Bolt will participate in the Commonwealth Games.

"We don't have any official communication from Jamaican NOC (National Olympic Committee) on whether Bolt will participate or not but we believe he will take part in the Games.

"More than 150 athletes from Jamaica will take part in the Games.

"The Jamaican National Olympic Committee has sent the number of athletes and they will send the list of the athletes by September 3 cut off date.

"Before that we would not know anything.

"Of course, we will definitely look into the option of requesting Mr Fennell to help us in regard to Bolt's participation."

But organisers have ruled out paying an appearance fee to ensure Bolt's participation.

There had been reports in the Indian media today that they were trying to raise $1 million (£804,000) to offer him.

Bhanot said: "There is no question of giving appearance fee."

But Ricky Simms, Bolt's London-based agent, made it clear that it will be impossible to change the sprinter's mind.

He said: "If coach Mills says he is not going, he is not going.

"It is not a decision just reached yesterday, we have been talking for a while about it, and the big picture is World Championships 2011, so he will have to get his rest to re-start training."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2010: Bolt will definitely miss Commonwealth Games coach reveals
April 2010: Bolt may run at 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi
December 2009: Red-face for Commonwealth Games chief as Bolt denies he will definitely be there
October 2009: Bolt casts big doubt over 2010 Commonwealth Games
September 2009: Bolt will run at Commonwealth Games, Kalmadi claims