ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Olympic 400 metres champion Kirani James of Grenada is celebrating his 21st birthday with family and friends on the island.
James, who won global titles in 2011 at the World Championships in Daegu and then followed up with an Olympic medal in London last summer, flew into the island on Friday night for a weekend visit with his family.
He attended Church in his hometown yesterday and will spend the day with his parents and siblings before departing the island early today.
Only last week James competed in his final race of the 2013 season where he unsuccessfully defended his Diamond League title against LaShawn Merritt. The American also regained the world title from James in Moscow in early August.
In 2012, the Grenada Government unveiled a reward package for James including the designation of September 1 as Kirani James Day. James received more than EC$700,000 in cash, treasury bonds and other incentives for his Olympic achievement.
At a national rally, then Prime Minister Tillman Thomas announced the government’s reward of EC$500,000 in bonds to be matured in five years. Republic Bank (Grenada) also made a donation of EC$100,000 along with jewellery and other gifts from Corporate Grenada.
He was also appointed a Sports/Tourism Ambassador and given a Grenada diplomatic passport.
