Vantage Coupe

Segment
Coupe

Everybody's getting ready for the Olympics in London... even the city's trademark double-decker busses. The installation you see here was created by controversial Czech artist David Cerny out of the mechanical structure of a 1957 London bus made to look like it's doing push-ups. The massive six-ton piece, named London Boosted, is fitted with two giant hydraulic arms and an electrical engine, and has been installed outside the Czech Olympic House in Islington in time for opening ceremonies on Friday.

Cerny said of his creation: "There is one common exercise for every sportsman in the world, and that is push-ups. It is training for sport activities but at the same time it is also punishment in armies and prisons."

"So the push-ups are a very universal physical activity... It is in a way very ironic. We will see how long the athlete can work out for. Let's hope he will exercise for the full three weeks. He will be the biggest sportsman there." A combination of an electric motor, wiring and suspension help move the bus up and down on its bright red arms, accompanied by recordings of a groaning voice and videos projected on the windows.