28th July 2022, saw the start of the Commonwealth Games in the city, mostly held at an upgraded Alexander Stadium in the Perry Bar area of Sandwell.

As part of the opening ceremony a huge mechanical bull was created and placed in Centenary Square shortly afterwards.

In the lead up to the games a countdown clock and sculpture by Longines was installed in Centenary Square.

On 27th July 2022 the Queen’s Baton arrived in the city by canal boat in Brindleyplace.

On 28th July 2022 a special event was held in Central Square at Brindleyplace called ‘the Big Whistle’ with people blowing the famous Acme whistles made in the city, marking the start of the games.

In Centenary Square there was an installation of amazing large ‘pins’ for all the countries participating in the games.

Victoria Square also hosted colours and an artistic reimagining of the Queen Victoria statue called ‘Foreign Exchange‘ by Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke.

For the Chelsea Flower Show 2022 the city created a games themed display which was the city’s tenth consecutive winner, moved and installed in Cathedral Square (‘Pigeon Park’) after the show.

An official mascot was created for the games called ‘Perry’, it could be seen all over the city as a statue and on the games branding banners.

There was also a statue commissioned for the games called ‘One Giant Leap for Humankind’ by artist Jacob Chandler, installed at Grand Central (New Street Station’.

During the final days of the games news broke that the mechanical bull was to be scrapped! A public outcry ensued and BBC Sport’s Mike Bushell led a campaign to have it saved for the city. There was no way to keep the original so it was agreed that a full size replica would be created, this can now be seen permanently installed in the main concourse of Grand Central (New Street Station).

In the meantime the original was stored in a local brownfield in Ladywood, kindly allowed by a local business, although it did look a little sad.

I was very proud that Mike Bushell liked one of my photos of the bull that he saw on my social media, he was delighted when a canvas print was made and that I gave to him in thanks for helping to save one of our city’s great icons.