The London 2012 Olympic Games are not just about sport.

Hammersmith and Fulham is also taking part in the Cultural Olympiad - the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

That means everything from new sculptures to celebratory murals and banners.

Shepherd's Bush Green is the venue for two gigantic football-inspired sculptures known as Goaloids. Each Goaloid is constructed in metal and based on the dimensions of a set of goalposts. Each will rotate in opposite directions for 45 minutes, stop then reverse for the last 45 minutes of a 90 minutes set, making reference to the duration of a full football match.

The sculptures are designed to commemorate the site of the 1908 London Olympic football finals and are the work of artist and QPR supporter Elliott Brook.

The Goaloids were officially switched on by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr Belinda Donovan on Thursday, July 26, at 11am, a few hours before the Olympic torch visited the green.

Meanwhile sculptures of a different kind altogether are on show at several other borough parks.

Chainsaw carver Shane Green came to Bishops Park on Monday July 30 where he sculpted hurdles out of a huge piece of woodm before moving onto Ravenscourt Park on Tuesday 31 July carving a sculpture to depict basketball, and then on August 1 visiting Wormholt Park in Shepherd's Bush carving a sprinting depiction.

If that was not enough, as a 'gift from the gods' an enormous javelin has landed close to the northern bus station at Westfield and glass graphics are on view at the nearby Shepherd's Bush Library.

Pupils from Fulham Primary School hung a huge mural on the on Fulhham Broadway to celebrate the torch relay and cycling road races, and Olympic lamppost banners have been hung across the borough aong with Olympic bunting.

Cllr Greg Smith H&F Council deputy leader and cabinet member for residents’ services, says: " The borough is proud to play host to the cultural Olympiad and I hope plenty of residents see the fantastic exhibits on show over the coming weeks.”

July 27, 2012