Olympic Athletes Portraits Go On Show At The National Portrait Gallery

Road To 2012 Exhibition: Potential Medallists At The National Portrait Gallery

Portraits of Olympic athletes will hang side by side with a picture of the woman responsible for catering at the 2012 games in a new exhibition.

Road To 2012: Aiming High, which includes 40 new portraits, goes on show at the National Portrait Gallery in central London on 19 July before travelling across the country, with exhibitions in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

It includes portraits of potential medallists including gymnast Beth Tweddle and sprinter Jodie Williams.

The gallery's director Sandy Nairne said the exhibition "celebrates exceptional British sportspeople, and some of the crucial figures working behind the scenes - whether they be coaches and managers or soil engineers, architects or the producers of the key ceremonies.

"It features outstanding photographic portraits that convey the determination, skill and mental prowess of those working at the highest level of international sport."

A less familiar face is Jan Matthews who as head of catering at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is in charge of making sure 14 million meals are served over 77 days.

Jillian Edelstein's photograph shows her at London's Smithfield Market, which has been selling meat to the capital for hundreds of years.

Anne Braybon, commissions manager for the project, said that Edelstein "uses intriguing locations, and carefully crafted lighting to reference the stories behind the final preparations for games time and the legacy work in the East End of London".

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