ROCK STAR JAMAICANS ROLLING IN FOR GAMES

THE rock stars of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games – Jamaica’s track and field athletes – have touched down on the Gold Coast.

Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson led a group of 13 track stars into the new GC2018 Airport Lounge to the cheers of a small but vocal crowd of delighted local supporters, some of who travelled from Brisbane and as far south as Kyogle, in northern NSW, to greet them.

The athletes, including 400m Olympic and world championship bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, defending Commonwealth 400m champion StephenieAnn McPherson and 100m and 200m sprinter Julian Forte, were jetlagged but delighted with the reception.

“It’s great. It’s always good to be appreciated,” Forte said.

“We train and work hard so this kind of reception is always good. I don’t look at it as pressure. It’s almost like reward for all the hard work you’ve put in.”

The athletes will spend the week acclimatising at a secret location before they start moving into the Athletes’ Village once it opens.

Usain Bolt is expected to join the team on the Coast as an ambassador.