Optimist International (OI) Caribbean District is to pay tribute to sprinter Usain Bolt in September.

The sprinter, who holds world records and Olympic and World Championship titles over the 100m and 200m, is to be given the Optimist International's Friend of Youth Award because of his influence on the youth, says immediate past Governor Judith Reid.

"The children are quoting him left right and centre. They see him as a beacon, they see him as a role model and we're going to make the presentation at the school for the deaf," Reid told The Gleaner at the OI 18th annual district convention at Gran Bahía Príncipe hotel in St Ann on Saturday.

Inspired by bolt

Optimist International has as its motto 'Friend of Youth' and one of the many activities the organisation undertakes as part of its effort to assist the youth is an essay oratorical (speech) competition among deaf children.

These children, she explained, have been inspired by the phenomenal success of Usain Bolt.

"One student (at the School for the Deaf) says he can be like Usain Bolt but because he is deaf he will not be allowed to participate at that level. You see the impact Usain Bolt has had on them? That young fellow (Bolt) is really a powerful fellow."

The interaction between OI and the School for the Deaf has already manifested itself in a positive way for the wider society.

According to Reid, measures now being put in place by the authorities to allow deaf persons to drive had their genesis in the same essay oratorical competition.

"It came from an essay in one of the speech competitions we had for deaf children. We want to look further at the competition because they have some real concerns as deaf children," Reid said.

Encouragement from 13-y-o

In keeping with their motto, the Optimists had 13-year-old Obrian Lewis addressing 50 children, aged six to 15 years old, at the convention.

Lewis encouraged his peers not to be intimidated by anything or anybody in their quest to achieve success.

"You may be poor, but don't let anybody tell you you can't do anything. You can do whatever you want," Lewis urged.

More than 150 representatives from 16 Caribbean states attended the three-day conference held Friday to Sunday under the theme 'Mission for Tomorrow: Today's Children - Tomorrow's World'.