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Britain united for Beijing

6/ 8/2008

OLYMPIC hopeful Aaron Cook’s image has formed part of a spectacular exhibition, putting his home town on the Olympic map.

The Macclesfield raised taekwondo star is one of 20 athletes taking part in the Britain United show in central London, which is on show throughout the duration of the Games.

The photographic and digital exhibition features the athletes on 2.5m high back-lit frames, which can be seen across the Thames.

The subjects were shot in locations around the UK which are meaningful to them, and Cook chose Alderley Edge woods, where he used to ride with his family.

He took up the sport at the age of five, when he dreamed of being a Power Ranger, and he recently became the first-ever male British athlete to win a WTF World Junior Championship Taekwondo title, beating the Chinese and Korean opponents who traditionally dominate the sport.

The athletes showcased include British diving prodigy Tom Daley, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Marlon Devonish, London Marathon winner and Paralympian Shelley Woods and World Champion track cyclist Victoria Pendleton.

Over 15 different sports are covered in the exhibition across 10 different disciplines.

The collection features 20 athletes from across Great Britain who will be competing in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

All were shot in Adidas clothing, as part of its partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association.

Adidas supplies over 120,000 items of specially tailored kit to more than 500 athletes.

The exhibition runs until Wednesday, September 17 and is free of charge.