The project, which is the largest photographic commission ever undertaken by the National Portrait Gallery, is being made possible by London 2012 Tier One sponsor BT and will open in Cardiff on March 30 this year before touring to Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Wales, Scotland and England are all represented by the photographers and subjects, while the majority of the photographic portraits were first seen at the National Portrait Gallery in exhibitions held there over the previous two summers, Road to 2012: Setting Out (2010) and Road to 2012: Changing Pace (2011).

The touring exhibition will include some unseen portraits by new photographers currently working on the final commissions.

These names will be announced when the exhibition opens in Cardiff Bay next month.

"For us, London 2012 is not just about fantastic sport – we want to help tell the story of the people who are working behind the scenes to make the Games happen," said Suzi Williams, the BT Group marketing and brand director.

"That's why we partnered the National Portrait Gallery for our Road to 2012 project.

"We've enabled the Gallery to commission world class photographers to take 100 brand new portraits that tell the story of people behind the Games from the bid stage, through the build of the venues, to the athletes preparing to compete next year."

Launched in 2009, the project presents both the athletes and those working on delivering the Games.


London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe is featured as the man who spearheaded the capital's winning bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, while architect Zaha Hadid (pictured) is included for her work in designing the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.

Some of the others featuring in the photographic portraits include Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, who is the National Olympic Security Coordinator, children's author Michael Morpurgo, who writes the stories of London 2012 mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, and London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony artistic director Danny Boyle.

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