British Olympic hopefuls star on Thames billboards to drum up public support

By Kiran Randhawa for MailOnline
Updated: 08:24 EST, 29 July 2008

They are among Britain's great hopes for Olympic glory.

As they fly out to Beijing this week, images of 20 star athletes will appear on billboards by the Thames to encourage the British public to cheer them on.

Double world champion rower Pete Reed, world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and 5,000m runner Mo Farah are among those who will feature in the Britain United outdoor exhibition - sponsored by adidas - which opens on Friday on the South Bank.

Enlarge   Tom Reed

Double world champion rower Pete Reed in front of Battersea Power Station

Athletes from across the country were photographed in places meaningful to them, ranging from their home towns and schools to beaches, forests and places where they began their training.

Ohuruogu, who won gold at the world indoor athletics championships in Osaka last year, is pictured on a taxi outside Stratford Tube station.

The 23-year-old said: 'This is my home town. It's quite significant I'm here as I think my love of sport came from my schools and, in particular, my local primary school, which is just up the road.

'I think this exhibition is an excellent way of inspiring the whole country to support athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games.'

Enlarge   Christine Ohuruogu

Get set: World Indoor Athletics Championship gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu takes her marks on a taxi in Stratford

Reed, 26, who has replaced James Cracknell in the team for the coxless four rowing - an event which Britain won in 2000 and 2004 - chose a stretch of the Thames, on which he has raced many times, in front of Battersea Power Station.

Farah, 25, a European silver medallist, is pictured in Bushy Park, where he trains.

Enlarge   Mo Farah

5,000m runner Mo Farah, in Richmond's Bushy Park where he trains

Diving prodigy Tom Daley, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Marlon Devonish, London Marathon winner Paralympian Shelly Woods and World Champion track cyclist Victoria Pendleton are also showcased in the exhibition, which will run until 17 September.

• An exhibition exploring the influence sport has on fashion is to be unveiled next Tuesday.

The show at the V&A will feature 60 outfits, including work by Stella McCartney, who has designed a sportswear range.

The Olympics starts on Friday 8 August.

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