Jennifer
Bolt, mother of World and Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, has been
chosen as the first recipient of the International Mothers of
Distinction (IMOD) award, media reports have stated.

The announcement was made recently at a press conference held at the offices of the Jamaican consul general in Toronto, Canada. It was attended by Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, Seth George Ramocan,
and Usain’s father, Wellesley Bolt.

The IMOD award is the brainchild of a Jamaican-Canadian businessman, Delford Blythe, who said the award was created to “recognise the important and significant role that mothers play in the lives of their
families and the development of society in general”.

He explained that each year, one mother would be chosen by the IMOD committee for the Founders award, while another four mothers would be chosen from a field of nominations received from around the world.

Mrs Bolt was chosen as the first recipient of the Founders award because of the significant impact she has had on the life of her son.

Blythe praised her for the significant achievements of her son, noting: “Usain has brought back a certain excitement to international athletics that was not there in recent times, and has elevated the
Jamaica ‘brand’ to a level never seen before.

”
The IMOD award will be an annual event open to all mothers from around
the world and from all walks of life. The inaugural awards ceremony will
take place on May 7, 2011, in Toronto when all five mothers will
receive their awards.