Brummie Bull: Thousands join bid to keep the Birmingham Commonwealth Games bull in the city
Campaigners set up a petition to keep the star of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Birmingham
He was the star of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Alexander Stadium.
Raging and roaring, steaming and screeching the Brummie Bull stunned crowds across the globe during the action packed show created by Martin Clarke who was head of ceremonies for London 2012, along with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and others.
And he’s winning more fans every day as he sits in Centenary Square where thousands of tourists and locals java flocked to see him.
But the Brummie Bull is set to be dismantled at the end of the Commonwealth Games - much to the dismay of many.
A petition has been set up to save the local star - with thousands signing already.
The leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward said the local authority was already "in discussion with partners to see what is possible for the future. It’s already proving incredibly popular," he said.
Mike Kelt, from creators and special effects company Artem, told the BBC on Friday that the bull was "too big to easily store anywhere".
Due to its size, moving it also required a lot of effort, he said. It took a 17-tonne vehicle to move it around the stadium.
"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 added.
The iconic bull played a key part in the Opening Ceremony, first appearing alongside female performers representing the female chain-makers of the Industrial Revolution - who were actually making chains for the slave trade. The irony being that they too were slaves of sort, as they were underpaid and overworked.
However they got to take back control in 1910 by participating in the 1910 minimum wage strike.
Back at the show the bull was running away and escaping, which becomes a catalyst for the women to break free from their chains at the same time.
When the team of young athletes, called Stella and the Dreamers, around which the Opening Ceremony show was based, catch up with the bull on their journey through time they choose not to be scared. Instead they embrace the traumatised and scarred creature - a touching reminder of how everyone is worthy of love, whatever their circumstances.
It’s also a poignant pointer to a key part of the Brummie spirit - embracing diversity and multiculturalism and giving everyone a warm welcome. Alright Bab!
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