As the British Overseas Territory does not have an Olympic team, athletes from the islands can only compete on the grandest sporting stage in GB colours.

To date, Delano Williams is the only person to have achieved the feat after the sprinter was selected for the Rio 2016 Games.

Williams received a hero's welcome when he returned to Turks and Caicos after his appearance in Brazil, with a motorcade greeting him shortly after he landed.

But his Olympic experience was a mixed bag, with the high of making history tempered with the low of his British team being disqualified from the 4x400 metres relay.

The quartet won their heat to cement themselves as big medal hopes in the final, but Martyn Rooney was then deemed to have started outside of the changeover zone and the team were thrown out.

Williams, a world relay bronze medallist in 2015, is due to see action at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games when he will be in Turks and Caicos colours.

"We are expecting great things from him," said Rosalie Ingham-Hall, the Turks and Caicos Islands Chef de Mission for the Games.

"At Rio everyone was so excited. 

"Some companies designed t-shirts, everyone was glued to their televisions to watch. We were extremely proud of him.

"The end was disappointing but at the same time we were still proud of the fact that he made it to the Olympics." 

In 2012, Williams won the world junior title over 200m in a Turks and Caicos vest, and he competed at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

He is due to be part of an 11-strong team at Birmingham 2022, across the sports of athletics, swimming and road cycling.

Other names to watch include long jumper Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye, who competed at both the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and is due for a third straight appearance.

The Nigerian-born athlete won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games held in the Isle of Man in 2011.

Swimming and cycling, meanwhile, are new sports for Turks and Caicos which made its Commonwealth Games debut in 1978 but then did not return for 20 years.

They have now been ever-present since Kuala Lumpur 1998, but are still waiting for their first medal.

"It is one of the biggest events for us," said Ingham-Hall, the general secretary of the Turks and Caicos Islands Commonwealth Games Association.

"The locals will be watching the Opening Ceremony, track and field, swimming and cycling, if nothing else!"

Ingham-Hall was the Chef de Mission at Glasgow 2014 and also held the role at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla. 

She is also general secretary of the Turks and Caicos Islands Amateur Athletic Association, and enjoyed a track career which saw her represent the territory at the Central American and Caribbean Games, the CARIFTA Games and the Pan American Championships.

Her speciality was the 200m and the 400m, and she is a previous national record holder for both distances.

"I was excited and nervous being so young at the time," said Ingham-Hall on her career.

"But I looked forward to it.

"It has allowed me the opportunity to visit a lot of places and experience a lot of different cultures.

"And I've met a lot of people who I am still friendly with to this day.

"It has great advantages."

Turks and Caicos welcomed the Queen's Baton Relay this month, which visited most of the inhabited islands.

Historical sites in the territory, known for its long history of exporting salt, were also part of the celebrations and athletes including Williams were involved.

Popular sports include cricket, athletics, basketball, rugby, football and softball and there has been a recent boost for facilities.

"The national stadium just got a new track," said Ingham-Hall.

"And we just heard the announcement recently that they have purchased land to build a swimming pool."

The previous athletics track, which hosted the 2007 CARIFTA Games, was damaged by a hurricane.

Ingham-Hall attended the Birmingham 2022 open days which were held last month and offered Chef de Missions the chance to visit facilities and assess preparations.

"Sports have played a very important role in my development - most importantly it helped me to cope with the highs and lows of life and to build character, resilience, respect and patience," she said.

"It is always a privilege and honour to lead Team Turks and Caicos to any championships event or to be away from the spotlight getting things done. 

"My task is an important responsibility which I take on whole-heartedly."