The star of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games‘ opening ceremony was the mechanical bull. Ten metres tall and weighing 2.5 tonnes, it was moved to Centenary Square near the central library during the Games.
The bull was due to be dismantled after the Games. However, it has already become a big visitor attraction. Despite appearances, the bull is not robust enough to survive the normal British weather. After a petition to keep the bull, Birmingham are now looking for a permanent indoor space for it.
When I went to see the bull, there were huge crowds. Periodically, to the crowd’s delight, the bull came alive, as in the opening ceremony. The head moved from side to side, the eyes glowed red, and the nostrils let out steam.
You can read about the making of the bull here.
