Johnson gets her kit on for Athens

British athletics chiefs chose Jade Johnson to model the new kit for the Olympics even though she is not guaranteed a place in the team. The 24-year-old long-jumper modelled one of the outfits unveiled today, but to guarantee a place in Athens, the Commonwealth and European silver medallist must still jump the qualifying distance and finish in the first two at this weekend's final Olympic trials in Manchester.

Should she miss out it would prove highly embarrassing for Team GB who used her today as the face to launch the adidas ClimaCool new kit, designed to help athletes deal with the sweltering heat expected in Greece next month.

The company claims its "dynamic ventilation technology" evolved in the past two years and was inspired by the technology behind Porsche cars. Others will see it as confirmation that athletes are revealing too much flesh.

Just as air vents in the sports car open when it hits high speeds, tiny vents in the athletes' shoes open, regulating body temperature. The kit aims to boost the performance of Britain's Olympic medal hopes, including rowers Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, runner Kelly Holmes and Steve Backley in the javelin, by helping them waste less energy trying to stay cool.

Meanwhile Chris Rawlinson insists he is not trying to keep world champion Felix Sanchez out of what would be a pulsating clash in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at the end of the month.

Sanchez, the world's outstanding 400metres hurdler, is puzzled by why he has not been invited to the UK's top event, where in the past few years he has been a welcome visitor. With both athletes in top form, Crystal Palace could host an exciting preview of next month's Olympic final.