Commonwealth Games
Campaign to “save our bull” launched as Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony star becomes instant icon
Birmingham City Council Leader Ian Ward has promised to try to save the iconic raging bull that was the star of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony here.
A campaign to “save our bull” was launched after it emerged the creators Artem planned to dismantle the bull after the Games.
“I am delighted with how well the Opening Ceremony bull has been received by the people of Birmingham and beyond,” Ward said.
“The Council is in discussion with partners to see what is possible for the future, after the bull has spent 10 days in its temporary home in Centenary Square.
“In the meantime, I would encourage people to go and see what is a magnificent spectacle.”
Centenary Square was packed today with local people and visitors desperate to catch a glimpse of the bull which has captured everyone’s imagination.
It followed an outpouring of support on social media for keeping the bull in some form as a permanent tribute to Birmingham 2022.
On Twitter, KazofBrum spoke for many when they wrote: “Look Birmingham City Council, that bull is ICONIC. It represents Brum and needs to stay forever. #keepbrumbull. #Birmingham2022”
John Reynard added his support, writing: “It must be kept, if nothing else than to be a symbol of the games being held in Birmingham.”
Artem, creators of the 10-metre-high bull, weighing 2.5 tonnes, revealed that they planned to break up the bull on August 9 – the day after the Closing Ceremony of Birmingham 2022.
“It is a little large to put anywhere really,” the bull’s creator Michael Dollar said.
“It is not really built to last forever.”
Artem director Mike Kelt warned it was too big to easily store anywhere.
“There’s bits in it that have to be taken out, so if it was going to exist forever, somebody would have to pay for those bits to stay in it,” he said.
“That isn’t an enormous sum of money, but I think storage is the problem.
“And to move it somewhere is also a problem.
“It takes quite a bit of effort to move it.
“And being 10 metres high, there aren’t many places you can move it.”
The incredible structure was designed by more than 50 people over five months at the London studios of creative company Artem, whose slogan is, “If you can dream it, we can build it.”
Special effects – smoke from the body and nostrils, tears of blood and lighting from within – were used to show the Bull’s emotions as it interacted with performers depicting Birmingham’s journey through difficult parts of its history through to the present day.
The bull was carried around the Stadium by a 17-tonne vehicle, prompting gasps of wonderment among the 30,000 people inside the Alexander Stadium last Thursday (July 28) and those watching on television.
Dr Justin Varney, the director of public health at Birmingham City Council, was among senior officials to join the #keepbrumbull campaign.
“The bull is spectacular but even more so with its story of slave labour and women chain makers,” he said.
“It is both triumphant but also challenges us.”
Insidethegames
Commonwealth Games
Scotland which beat Nigeria for 2014 Games may step in for ‘stepped-down’ 2026 Commonwealth Games
Scotland’s Commonwealth Games body has developed a “cost-effective” way to host the troubled 2026 event in Glasgow amid continued uncertainty over its long-term future. Glasgow beat Abuja, Nigeria for the 2014 Games which Nigeria had intended to use to mark the 100th anniversary of the creation of the nation state.
Nigeria became a geographical entity 0n 1 January 1914 when the northern part and Southern part as well as the Lagos Colony were amalgamated.
The 2014 Games were awarded to Scotland which is now likely to use the same facilities for the troubled 2026 edition following the withdrawal of Australian state of Victoria as hosts.
Glasgow commissioned a feasibility study in December. Estimates suggest Scotland could run the event for between £130m and £150m – with the potential to bring more than £100m into the economy.
Existing sports facilities like the Emirates Arena would be used again instead of new builds, and competitors would be housed in local hotels rather than an athletes’ village.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has said it will provide £100m for the chosen host nation, with the remaining budget funded by ticket sales and broadcasting rights.
The usual programme, however, would need to be cut down to between 10 and 13 events.
Malaysia has rejected an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to uncertainty over costs and insufficient funding offered, its government said on Friday, in a major setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
Malaysia was asked to step in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host, citing ballooning costs, with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) offering 100 million pounds ($126 million) in supporting funds.
Malaysia ruling itself out raises the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War.
The funding offered was not enough, officials said, and Malaysia could not commit to hosting the event at such short notice and with little time to assess the potential economic impact.
“If we had a longer time, we would definitely do it, but because there’s such a short time, we definitely can’t do it,” government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told a regular briefing.
“When we assessed the viability of hosting the Games, the length of time needed and the cost was seen to be particularly prohibitive.”
The London-based CGF did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Malaysia declining its offer.
The youth and sports ministry said the 100 million pounds funding it had offered would not be enough to cover the costs of hosting a large-scale sports event.
“Additionally, the economic impact could not be identified in this short timeframe,” it said in a statement.
RELEVANCE QUESTIONED
The Games are typically contested by about 70 countries and territories of the former British empire and medals tables have in recent editions been dominated by Australia, England, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
Victoria’s withdrawal had already placed the future of the event in doubt and raised questions about whether a Games with colonial origins was still relevant in the modern era, and over its place in an already packed global sporting calendar.
The Games has struggled to find a willing host in recent years and five of the last six editions have been held in Australia or Britain.
The English city of Birmingham, which had been due to host in 2026, stepped in to save the 2022 event after South Africa were stripped of hosting rights over a lack of progress in preparations.
Birmingham’s move led to the CGF scrambling to find another host for 2026 and Victoria had been the only viable candidate after several other cities withdrew from the bidding process over cost issues.
The proposal had received a mixed response in Malaysia, which hosted the 1998 edition, due to concerns about costs and the lack of preparation time.
The Malaysian Olympic Council had this week proposed holding a downsized Games, with limited spending on athletes’ accommodations and smaller opening and closing ceremonies.
-Reuters
Malaysia has rejected an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to uncertainty over costs and insufficient funding offered, its government said on Friday, in a major setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
Malaysia was asked to step in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host, citing ballooning costs, with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) offering 100 million pounds ($126 million) in supporting funds.
Malaysia ruling itself out raises the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War.
The funding offered was not enough, officials said, and Malaysia could not commit to hosting the event at such short notice and with little time to assess the potential economic impact.
“If we had a longer time, we would definitely do it, but because there’s such a short time, we definitely can’t do it,” government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told a regular briefing.
“When we assessed the viability of hosting the Games, the length of time needed and the cost was seen to be particularly prohibitive.”
The London-based CGF did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Malaysia declining its offer.
The youth and sports ministry said the 100 million pounds funding it had offered would not be enough to cover the costs of hosting a large-scale sports event.
“Additionally, the economic impact could not be identified in this short timeframe,” it said in a statement.
RELEVANCE QUESTIONED
The Games are typically contested by about 70 countries and territories of the former British empire and medals tables have in recent editions been dominated by Australia, England, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
Victoria’s withdrawal had already placed the future of the event in doubt and raised questions about whether a Games with colonial origins was still relevant in the modern era, and over its place in an already packed global sporting calendar.
The Games has struggled to find a willing host in recent years and five of the last six editions have been held in Australia or Britain.
The English city of Birmingham, which had been due to host in 2026, stepped in to save the 2022 event after South Africa were stripped of hosting rights over a lack of progress in preparations.
Birmingham’s move led to the CGF scrambling to find another host for 2026 and Victoria had been the only viable candidate after several other cities withdrew from the bidding process over cost issues.
The proposal had received a mixed response in Malaysia, which hosted the 1998 edition, due to concerns about costs and the lack of preparation time.
The Malaysian Olympic Council had this week proposed holding a downsized Games, with limited spending on athletes’ accommodations and smaller opening and closing ceremonies.
-Reuters
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