By Neil Elkes

THE world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, came a stride closer to staying in Birmingham for his 2012 Olympics warm-up when he met city council leader Mike Whitby.

Birmingham’s Tory chief is in Berlin where Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt is preparing for this weekend’s World Athletics Championships, and took the chance to make his pitch for a training camp ahead of the London Games.

That would mean city youngsters could watch the triple Olympic gold medallist going through his paces at the Alexander Stadium before defending his title in London.

Coun Whitby has now held initial talks with Jamaican Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture Olivia Grange, during which he met the Lightning Bolt.

He said: “We had a very encouraging meeting with the Minister and to meet Usain Bolt was the icing on the cake. It would be a tremendous boost for the city if we can play host to Usain and the Jamaican squad.

“I’m in Berlin because the big decision makers of world athletics are here and we have to show them that Birmingham means business for 2012.”

The Jamaican national side would be the second major athletics team to chose Birmingham as a training base, after it was confirmed the American track and field team are finalising a contract with the City Council.

The positive talks will give Birmingham’s sports officials a boost after the blow earlier this week that Aston Villa will not host Olympic football matches in 2012 as the stadium is undergoing some construction work.