The world was blown away by the “Raging Bull” that dominated the Opening Ceremony at the Commonwealth Games and another classy feature of the gigantic mascot has now been revealed.
The 10m high mechanical prop was the centrepiece in Friday morning’s arena spectacular which celebrated aspects of Birmingham’s history and culture.
The Bull Ring is a major shopping district in Birmingham, which also features a sculpture of a bull, while the mascot for these Commonwealth Games is Perry the Bull.
It has now been revealed there was another layer to the “Raging Bull” with the head of the prop displaying the names of the victims of Birmingham’s tragic 1974 pub bombings.
The names of the 21 people killed in the blasts were inscribed in the metal work.
The IRA bombings also saw a further 184 people injured.
A spokesperson for the support group for the families of the victims has told The Birmingham Mail they were not consulted or informed about the classy display before noticing it on TV.
“Saw the names of our 21 on the bull’s head,” the spokesperson said.
“Pity no one bothered to inform us, or explain to the audience who the names belong to.
“Very moving for us, but missed by most. Such a wasted opportunity to get our 21 remembered at such a huge, global moment. What shame.”
During the ceremony, female chain makers dragged the bull into the stadium, representing the chains used during the slave trade. The bull then broke free of those chains — symbolising the abolition of the slave trade and the 1910 wage strike that paved the way for women to break free from poverty.
The bull was then “tamed” by a performer and plonked in the middle of the stadium, becoming a focal point of the entire ceremony.
Earlier, Prince Charles arrived in style, driving the same Aston Martin the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge famously left Buckingham Palace in on their wedding day.
Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived together at the Alexander Stadium — drawing comparisons to James Bond and his famous Aston Martin.
The Prince of Wales drove his luxury, vintage car out onto the arena before a display where several motor vehicles combined to form a perfect Union Jack on the arena surface.