The 19-year-old, who won the world title in Barcelona last year, decided to represent Britain in all future international competitions and his switch in nationality has been granted under International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) rules.

Williams (pictured top on right) holds dual citizenship for both Turks and Caicos and Great Britain, and due to the Caribbean islands' status as a British Overseas Territory, he was previously eligible to compete for Team GB at the Olympics.

"I am very pleased that my transfer of allegiance has been confirmed and I am excited to be aiming towards a British team this summer," said Williams, who finished fifth at the UK 2012 Olympic Trials in June last year, missing out on securing a place on the team.

"Any athlete who saw the Olympics would feel an affinity with British fans as they showed how much they love the sport.

"I hope to receive a similar warm welcome in a British vest this season."

Williams is coached by Neil Harrison, who is head of track and field at Jamaica's Munro College.

Williams had moved there after Hurricane Ike had destroyed his school on Grand Turk Island in 2008.


Running for Munro College, he won the 100m and 200m at the 2012 Jamaican National High School Track and Field Championships, becoming the first non-national to do so and following in the footsteps of previous winners like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell.

This year Williams has run personal best times of 10.28sec for the 100m and 20.27 for the 200m.

Harrison will be joining up with the sprinter in London, as he prepares to compete at the Sainsbury's British Championships and the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games on July 26 and 27, before attending the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, if selected.

British Athletics performance director Neil Black said: "Delano is determined to earn a regular place on the team and to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland every year rather than just in Olympics, and that shows exactly the right commitment.

"We very much look forward to working with him as he develops into a senior athlete.

"He is already a real talent and he will be vying for selection to the team for Moscow World Championships when he competes at the Sainsbury's British Championships in Birmingham in July."