Olympian Kriss Akabusi will visit the island on the 12th July to help promote the Commonwealth Youth Games with Partner Sponsor Barclays Wealth. Kriss is famous for his achievements in athletics where his greatest individual triumph was the gold medal he won in the 1990 European Championships when he also beat David Hemery’s 22 year old British record. Kriss began his international athletic career in 1983 as a member of the 4x400 metre relay squad and will probably always be remembered for helping Britain clinch the Gold and beat the American team in the World Championships 4x400 metre relay in Tokyo in 1991. In 1992 as 3 times Olympic medallist, World, European and Commonwealth Champion Kriss was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in her Birthday Honours List in recognition of his services to the country through athletics. During his visit to the Island, Kriss will be meeting local primary school children at the National Sports Centre where they will be taking part in a number of sports activities led by Kriss and local coaches. He will then visit the Barclays Wealth branch in Victoria Street Douglas between 1.30pm – 2.30pm where members of the public can meet Kriss as well as Tosha, the Commonwealth Youth Games mascot. An afternoon tea for Partner Sponsors and Commonwealth Youth Games representatives will then be held followed by a formal dinner for Barclays Wealth staff and invited guests. Simon Scott, Managing Director of Barclays Wealth said: ‘As a partner sponsor, we are delighted to be able to welcome Kriss to the Isle of Man to help us celebrate the arrival of the Commonwealth Youth Games. We are all getting behind the games with over 150 members of Barclays Wealth staff volunteering to help during the week-long festival. I hope that Kriss’ visit will help inspire more people to volunteer and build excitement for the Games which are due to start on the 7th September.’ Kriss said: ‘I am very excited to be visiting the Isle of Man next month to help promote a very important event in the Island’s history. I hope that hosting the Commonwealth Youth Games will encourage young people in the Isle of Man to take up new sports and spend more time being active. It is fantastic to see Barclays Wealth getting behind the Games and encouraging its staff to become volunteer officials, this is an event that will be remembered fondly for many years to come.’ ENDS