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
Nigeria Steps Up Bid to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games as Delegation Arrives London
A high-powered Nigerian delegation has arrived in London, United Kingdom, for the decisive phase of the country’s campaign to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
The team is led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director General, Bukola Olopade, who are set to present Nigeria’s final case before the Games’ decision-makers on Wednesday.
Dikko had delivered Nigeria’s preliminary pitch last month, laying the foundation for this week’s crucial engagements. If successful, the bid would make Nigeria the first African nation to host the Commonwealth Games since the event’s inception in 1930.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full backing for the bid, assuring the international sporting community that Nigeria is ready to deliver a world-class Games.
Only last week, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, joined other senior government officials in welcoming the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation team during their inspection visit to Nigeria.
Further demonstrating the administration’s commitment, the President’s Special Assistant on Public Communication and Presidential Spokesperson, Sunday Dare, is part of the London delegation.
Other members of the Nigerian contingent include Bid Coordinator Mainasara Ilo; President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel; Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa; five-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Mary Onyali; and current para-badminton world number one, Eniola Bolaji.
Nigeria’s 2030 bid is anchored on themes of inclusivity, legacy, and development, with promises to stage a Games that not only reflects the Commonwealth spirit but also creates lasting opportunities for sport, culture, and youth empowerment across Africa.
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Nigeria’s push to become the first African country to host the Commonwealth Games gained momentum on Tuesday as the National Sports Commission (NSC) received the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee in Abuja.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to secure the hosting rights for the 2030 Games, describing the bid as a landmark opportunity for Africa and a historic milestone for Nigeria.
Dikko stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has thrown his full weight behind the bid, highlighting it as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s growing influence in global sports.
“We are delighted to welcome the Evaluation Committee to Abuja as a sign of our seriousness,” Dikko said.
“President Tinubu sees the Commonwealth Games as more than just an event; it will be a celebration of Africa’s sporting passion and Nigeria’s role as a continental leader.”
Olopade added that Nigeria’s bid is built on four critical pillars—modern facilities, political will, private sector support, and strong public enthusiasm.
He noted that the Bid Committee, led by veteran sports administrator Mainasara Illo, has prepared a “robust document” to strengthen Nigeria’s case.
“With our preparations, engagements, and strong government backing, we are confident Nigeria can win the right to host the Games,” Olopade said.
Underscoring government commitment, the delegation was hosted at the Presidential Villa by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside nine Federal Executive Council members, including Minister of Youth Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
The visiting delegation, led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at the Commonwealth Sport, included Ann-Louise Morgan, CS Director of Sport, and Ezera Tshabangu, Regional Development Manager for Africa and Europe.
Nigeria’s bid, if successful, would make the 2030 Commonwealth Games the first ever to be hosted on African soil, fulfilling a long-standing call for inclusivity in the Commonwealth sporting family.
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Nigeria may have a major African challenger in the bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. South Africa is preparing to join the competition. The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) had announced a Nigerian bid in April. This follows the failed bid in 2007 for the 2014 Games.
The earlier bid was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation. This amalgamation joined the Northern and Southern Protectorates with the Lagos Colony to form Nigeria.
Sports Village Square has gathered that South Africa, through its Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), is making a bid and is merely waiting for cabinet approval.
The country intends to use the Commonwealth Games of 2030 as a dress rehearsal for the bigger Olympic Games.
According to the SASCOC president, Barry Hendricks, the 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting will be part of the learning curve for the Olympics. “… it teaches us what we can do over the next eight years to get to 2040.”
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