BIRMINGHAM, England — The food served at the Jamaican training camp at the University of Birmingham in the West Midlands city here has received unanimous approval from a number of athletes.

During a break from their training schedule yesterday, about a dozen athletes went for a walk and some shopping, in the Birmingham town centre, the famous Bull Ring.

Almost all gave a rousing approval when asked about the food at the training camp, and a few jokingly blamed the food for their weight gain since the start of training camp.

GraceKennedy is providing the food as well as a chef for the duration of the training camp before the team moves to the Athletes Village in London early next week.

According to an athlete who spoke to the Jamaica Observer, the food served is the standard Jamaican fare including jerk chicken, steamed fish, rice and peas, vegetable rice, stewed chicken, stewed pork, ackee and saltfish, liver, boiled and fried dumplings, adding "everybody loves it man".

Also seen in the Bull Ring were JAAA president Dr Warren Blake and JAAA official Dr Winston Dawes, who showed up about half-hour before the athletes did.

The appearance by the athletes at the Bull Ring and Victoria Square yesterday were their first public appearance since the start of camp on Monday and earlier in the day sources told the Observer that a number of senior athletes were "uncomfortable" with the restrictions placed on them at the camp as they were not allowed much fee movements.

Interviews, they said, were a no-no and even the scores of volunteers who tended to their every need were advised not to engage in conversations with the athletes.

The source said: "They won't even let our families in to see us; we have to go off the camp to see them and sit and talk. Nobody comes inside. Nobody."