Crystal Cox Considers Representing Anguilla in Track and Field

Chapel Hill, North Carolina based Olympic Gold Medalist and 2004 US 200-meter Indoor Champion is in serious negotiations with the country of Anguilla. Ms. Cox and Anguillian Athletic Association officials are attempting to come to terms with the sprinter to represent Anguilla in international competitions.

(PRWEB) December 19, 2004 -- The Anguillian Athletic Association has extended an offer to world ranked 200/400-meter sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Crystal Cox to join it athletics team and compete in the upcoming World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The proposed terms would also have Ms. Cox competing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia and 2008 Olympics in Beijing under the Anguillian Flag.

Anguilla is a Caribbean country which is most noted for its luxury tourism. Recently NBC's Today Show hosted its Destination Wedding there.

Crystal is very much in favor of the idea of competing for Anguilla. Both her mother and grandmother were born and raised on the island.

On Wednesday, December 15, 2004, Crystal was the guest speaker at the Anguillian National Sports Awards. According to National Award Committee member and Anguillian cricket hero, Cardigan Connor, it was the most well attended program in the events history.

The event generated tremendous buzz around the island as well. A mad scramble to secure tickets at the last minute made getting into the event very difficult for many Anguillians. Attendees for the event include some from Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis and nearby St Martin. The ceremony was carried live on Anguillian Television and Radio Anguilla.

Negotiations are also underway with several sponsors who are keen to sign Crystal to promote their products and services around the Caribbean region. Cable and Wireless, the leading telecommunications provider in the region and sponsor for Anguillian born West Indies Cricket superstar Omari Banks, is the first major sponsor to come aboard.

Other sponsors with Caribbean ties expected to make deals with Crystal are the National Bank of Anguilla, Caribbean Commercial Bank, American Eagle and the Government of Anguilla.

Crystal plans to maintain her American citizenship but also obtain an Anguillian and British passport to be able to represent her ancestral home. Both the Anguillian Athletics Associations and Crystal hope to be able to reach terms by the end of January. Currently, Ms. Cox and her management team are considering forgoing the upcoming indoor season to resolve all the legal and sponsorship issues.

Crystal expects to be fully prepared to qualify for a World Championship berth no matter which nation she represents. Crystal continues to train hard and should be ready to improve on her stellar outdoor season from last year.

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