Demands to keep Brum’s Bull

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Thousands of people have signed a petition to keep in the city the awesome mechanical bull that stole the show at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

And the campaign is being backed by the city’s media in the shape of the Birmingham Mail and its Reach Plc sister-publication the Sunday Mercury.

By this afternoon (2 August) almost 5,000 people were demanding that “Bully” should be saved from the scrapheap and instead be given a long-term future in Birmingham.

It was never intended that the awesome 10-metre high creation – now a major tourist-attraction in the city centre - should be retained after the Games but its legion of fans say it should be kept as an inspirational piece of public art.

The sculpture will be in Centenary Square for the duration of the Games but it faces an uncertain future after that.

The “Save the Bull” campaign provided a splash for the Mercury (pictured) with its Birmingham Live sister website also covering the launch of a petition.

Graeme Brown, Reach’s senior editor for Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire, said: “Birmingham has really taken the bull to heart. From the second it emerged in the opening ceremony, it has been the major talking point in the city.

“Thousands of people have been flocking to it on Centenary Square and it’s inspired a lot of civic pride. We are reflecting what Brummies think – and they overwhelmingly want the bull here to stay,” he added.

Bull photo: Credit – Davies, PA Wire