Two male French Olympic swimmers have posed in an intimate shot as an “imaginary couple”, as part of a campaign to tackle homophobia, which also features images of Eva Longoria and Lara Fabian.

Florent Manaudou and Frédérick Bousquet, posed in the photo, taken by Olivier Ciappa, who also started the campaign.

The project is called “imaginary couples”, and includes shots of other models, featuring the caption: “A peaceful look on homosexuality”, and features the “couples” asleep in each other’s arms, or in intimate, happy situations.

Other “couples” include actress Eva Longoria, and singer and actress Lara Fabian.

Ciappa described in an interview the pitch he made to the swimmers, when approaching them for the shoot. He said: “You’re with the person you love. Not a man, not a woman. Then, at the session, I disappear, for they are one with each other.”

On the Facebook page, featuring the images, the artist describes that the images were temporarily blocked, as they were “reported” too many times as inappropriate.

The photographs are being exhibited in Paris for one week.

In real life, Bousquet is partnered with Manaudou’s sister, and the couple have a daughter together.