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Steve Cram
MBE was joined by local schoolchildren as a new sculpture, depicting
an athlete on a globe, was unveiled outside the new national headquarters
of the English Institute of Sport at Sportcity.
The bronze statue,
created by sculptor Colin Spofforth, was commissioned to celebrate
the Spirit of Friendship Festival. The
sculpture is 30 feet high and weighs seven tonnes making it the
largest bronze sculpture dedicated to sport in the UK. It was sculpted
in a little over eight weeks and cast and finished in three months.
Fourteen children
from local schools in the East Manchester Education Action Zone
also took part in the ceremony by starting the countdown to the
unveiling. They were specially chosen to attend after winning a
competition held among 720 children to design their own sculpture.
Sculptor Colin
said: “Everyone involved has done everything possible and more to
make this sculpture happen in time for the Games - it’s fantastic
to see it here in this amazing setting.“
Jo Hartley,
National Festival director at Manchester 2002, said: “The Runner
is a lasting legacy for the people of Manchester created by an extraordinarily
talented artist.“
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