The Royal Opera House will play host to a temporary exhibition dedicated to the Olympics, during London’s staging of the Games next summer.

The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games, in situ at Covent Garden from July 27 to August 12, will draw on artefacts, graphics, film and sound recordings from the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The exhibition, sponsored by BP, will feature medals from every Olympics since 1896 and include all the torches from 1936 onwards, as well as stories of iconic athletes and items linked to their achievements.

“Arts and culture have an important role to play alongside the magnificent sporting competition next summer,” said Tony Hall, ROH chief executive and chair of the Cultural Olympiad Board. At a presentation of the project, held at Covent Garden and hosted by British triple jump Gold medalist Jonathan Edwards, Hall said he hopes visitors will be attracted into the Royal Opera House by the exhibition, and then “go away with a brochure and come and see some opera and ballet.”

Deborah Bull, dancer and creative director of the ROH, also spoke at the launch, drawing parallels between the athleticism involved in performance and sport: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are an example of the best of human spirit and physical endeavour. The Games in our city offer a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the inspirational talent of the world’s greatest athletes, reminding us – like the artists who more usually perform on our stages – of the extraordinary achievements of which human beings are capable.”