Three Commonwealth Games security guards have been sacked from working at the competition after getting their photograph taken with Usain Bolt, the Standard can reveal.
The latest controversy involving the world’s fastest man happened while he trained beside Hampden Park in preparation for the 4x100m relay tomorrow night.
All Commonwealth volunteers have now been warned by supervisors to remain professional and not to approach Bolt or other athletes for “selfies”.
A well-placed source told the Standard that the security guards approached Bolt earlier this week while he was training at a venue known as Lesser Hampden.
One volunteer at Hampden, Scotland’s national stadium that is hosting the athletics, said staff were alerted to the Bolt incident yesterday. The Jamaican is not thought to have played any role in the guards’ dismissal.
“The [supervisor] was saying we shouldn’t be doing that with out mobile phones,” the volunteer said. “Everyone was taking photographs of him but these two guys got punted [sacked].”
A Glasgow 2014 spokeswoman said: "Sword Security can confirm three members of contract security staff have been removed from roles at Glasgow 2014’s training facilities at Lesser Hampden after breaching conditions of their employment.
"All three are still employed by the company but are no longer working at Glasgow 2014. Sword Security’s polices are designed to ensure the privacy of athletes is fully respected in the lead-up to and during competition."
Today Sir Chris Hoy has said it would be “a shame” if Bolt had in fact described the Games as “a bit sh*t”.
Bolt yesterday tweeted his denial of the alleged conversation with a reporter from The Times, and later claimed the Games were “awesome” as he watched the Jamaican netball team in action.
BBC presenter Gary Lineker entered the row, tweeting: “I think what the Times is doing to @usainbolt is a bit s**t!”
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Scottish Olympian Sir Chris, the most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time, said he had not spoken to any athletes who “haven’t been absolutely blown away by the Games”.
“I haven’t heard anybody who has said anything derogatory,” he told ITV News.
“It’s a shame if he (Bolt) has, but I would say take the 99.9 per cent of the athletes’ opinions and use them as your barometer.”
Bolt arrived in Glasgow on Saturday and will be running the 4x100m relay heats tomorrow, as well as in the sprint relay final on Saturday, the final day of athletics competition.
Meanwhile it was revealed that pop superstar Kylie Minogue will top the bill at the Games’ closing ceremony on Sunday. Lulu and Deacon Blue will also feature at the Hampden Park ceremony.
