Usain Bolt's exploits over the past year have meant an increased workload for his manager Ricky Simms but you won't hear the Donegal native complaining.
The London-based athletics agent is on his way to a meeting concerned with a possible new sponsorship deal for the Jamaican star when he takes time out to speak to BBC Sport Interactive.
"We always had a very big client list and we've been busy for the last couple of years but yes, his success has generated new types of work and new interest," says Simms, the managing director of PACE International.
"We, and a company in Jamaica, jointly deal with all the endorsement and sponsorship issues."
Bolt's manager has had to politely decline requests for the double world record holder to appear on popular BBC shows Top Gear, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, A Question of Sport as well as a visit to a Manchester United home match.
"He's only in the UK for two months of the summer when he's competing.
"If he was based in London, he would be all over British TV but he's based in Jamaica and there are all those local things there that they want him to do in his home country."
The UK interest in the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of 2008 is mirrored by TV stations throughout the globe and he also has received an invitation from Spanish football giants Real Madrid.
"The interest is not at the level of the top footballers or golfers but he has potential if he has another year at that level to break away from athletics and get into being a global star."
However, Simms knows full well the danger that over-exposure to commercial opportunities could affect Bolt's performances out on the track.
"He still has to train and be an athlete for four or five years so we're going to try and partner up with three or four major brands and that will be him until 2012.
"He has to take the opportunities now while he has them but it's not the case of going to an opening of an envelope but a longer-term strategy that we're working on."
Six months on from his incredible performances in Beijing, Simms is pleased to report that Bolt's personality "hasn't changed".
"He is very much in demand in Jamaica.
"He gets a lot of invitations but he just has to make sure that he keeps training and keeps performing at this level for a number of years.
"Last year, he was very well-advanced. At this stage, he's probably a little bit behind where he was last year but his coach Glenn Mills is very happy with him."
Bolt's first outing of 2009 will be a low-key meeting in Jamaica on St Valentine's Day but his first serious action of the year will be at the Kingston International meeting in his native land in early May.
djromeo said
15:01 02/11 2009
big things for that guy... propss Usain!
KDB said
19:59 02/11 2009
dat a gwaan
Architek9 said
20:03 02/11 2009
good for him. good for jamaica. God blessed Jamaica.
Usain Bolt's exploits over the past year have meant an increased workload for his manager Ricky Simms but you won't hear the Donegal native complaining.
The London-based athletics agent is on his way to a meeting concerned with a possible new sponsorship deal for the Jamaican star when he takes time out to speak to BBC Sport Interactive.
"We always had a very big client list and we've been busy for the last couple of years but yes, his success has generated new types of work and new interest," says Simms, the managing director of PACE International.
"We, and a company in Jamaica, jointly deal with all the endorsement and sponsorship issues."
Bolt's manager has had to politely decline requests for the double world record holder to appear on popular BBC shows Top Gear, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, A Question of Sport as well as a visit to a Manchester United home match.
"He's only in the UK for two months of the summer when he's competing.
"If he was based in London, he would be all over British TV but he's based in Jamaica and there are all those local things there that they want him to do in his home country."
The UK interest in the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of 2008 is mirrored by TV stations throughout the globe and he also has received an invitation from Spanish football giants Real Madrid.
"The interest is not at the level of the top footballers or golfers but he has potential if he has another year at that level to break away from athletics and get into being a global star."
However, Simms knows full well the danger that over-exposure to commercial opportunities could affect Bolt's performances out on the track.
"He still has to train and be an athlete for four or five years so we're going to try and partner up with three or four major brands and that will be him until 2012.
"He has to take the opportunities now while he has them but it's not the case of going to an opening of an envelope but a longer-term strategy that we're working on."
Six months on from his incredible performances in Beijing, Simms is pleased to report that Bolt's personality "hasn't changed".
"He is very much in demand in Jamaica.
"He gets a lot of invitations but he just has to make sure that he keeps training and keeps performing at this level for a number of years.
"Last year, he was very well-advanced. At this stage, he's probably a little bit behind where he was last year but his coach Glenn Mills is very happy with him."
Bolt's first outing of 2009 will be a low-key meeting in Jamaica on St Valentine's Day but his first serious action of the year will be at the Kingston International meeting in his native land in early May.