HAVING scored countless hit songs with his Penthouse Records, Donovan Germain is one of contemporary reggae’s most successful producers. For many years, he had a fruitful relationship with acts like Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, and Wayne Wonder.

There is a different side to the Penthouse head. He is passionate about sports, and is often seen at National Premier League football matches, track and field meets, and Test or one-day cricket matches.

GERMAIN… music will take a backseat for Germain during the next two weeks when the London Olympics is in full gear

Germain was a member of the 1969 Kingston College Manning Cup team that also included Howard Bell, Mario McLennon, Fitzroy Wagstaffe and Derrick Denniser. A defender, he went on to play in the Major League for Pembroke Hall and Tafari in the New York City league.

Music will take a backseat for Germain during the next two weeks when the London Olympics is in full gear. He believes Jamaica will again do well, but does not see the team equalling, or bettering, its record eleven medals achieved at the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

The following are Donovan Germain’s predictions for some of the main events at the London Olympics.

Men’s 100 metres: (Usain) Bolt, (Yohan) Blake and (Tyson) Gay.

Men’s 200 metres: Bolt winning and Blake taking the silver. The bronze medal is up for grabs.

“Talent-wise, nobody is [as] good as Bolt. Maybe the defeats (in the sprint events to Blake in [the] recent National Trials) were good for him; Tyson Gay will do well in the 100, because he’s a warrior.”

Women’s 100 metres: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Carmelita Jeter, Veronica Campbell

Women’s 200 metres: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Allyson Felix, Veronica Campbell

“Shelly has peaked at the right time. When she gets that start and gets going, it’s hard to catch her. She has improved a lot in the 200 and I think she will take the double.”

Like Bolt and Fraser-Pryce, Melaine Walker will defend her title in the 400-metre hurdles where her biggest challenger is American arch-rival Lashenda Demus. Germain thinks she will medal, but doubts Walker will repeat given her “dodgy” form.

He expects the classy Australian Sally Pearson to take the 100-metre hurdles in which Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton, the World Championship gold medalist, is a contender.

As for the relays, Germain sees Jamaica’s formidable men’s 4X100 metres team, which includes Bolt and Asafa Powell, scoring another runaway victory. The women’s team will have to deal with a strong United States quartet, while he expects the 4X400 metres teams to medal in races that will go to the traditionally tough US.