Birmingham 2022 mascot revealed
The official mascot for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has today been revealed as Perry the bull.
Perry - a bull adorned with a patchwork of multi-coloured hexagons - becomes the first mascot at any multi-sport Games who will be brought to life through augmented reality.
It means people will have the opportunity to #PoseWithPerry using their mobile phone camera, and via a special filter on Facebook and Instagram.
Users can summon an animated, 3D version of Perry into their living rooms, pose for pictures with him, and can share their photos on social media.
Perry is inspired by the design of 10-year-old Emma Lou, the winner of a national design competition that took place over the summer of 2020.
The competition tasked children aged five to 15 with creating a mascot that reflects the identity, heritage and culture of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The winning design was combined with the findings of the first ever Virtual Mascot Summit in July 2020, hosted by Olympic heptathlon champion and president of Commonwealth Games England Denise Lewis OBE and TV Presenter Radzi Chinyanganya from Wolverhampton.
The summit saw more than 50 children from across Birmingham and the West Midlands take part in tasks to develop the mascot 's characteristics, values and movements, helping to inspire Perry 's personality.
Perry is named after the Perry Barr area of Birmingham, the home of the Alexander Stadium, which will host the athletics events at the Games, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium is undergoing a £72 million transformation in time for the Games.
The mascot 's rainbow coloured hexagons represent the coming together of the Commonwealth in equal partnership with the diverse communities of Birmingham and the West Midlands at the Games in 2022.
Perry 's sports kit includes blue, red and yellow stripes, a nod to the colours of the official flag of Birmingham, and the city 's motto, Forward.
Ian Reid, chief executive of Birmingham 2022, said: “Perry is everything I hoped our mascot would be and more: bright, colourful, energetic and totally representative of modern Birmingham and the West Midlands. Perry celebrates diversity, community, and our region 's heritage as well as its future.
“From today, Perry becomes a powerful icon for Birmingham 2022 all over the world, and you 'll be seeing a lot more of him during the countdown to the Games. He is a symbol of the coming together of the Commonwealth in Birmingham, and I am sure young and old will love him as much as I do! ”
Emma Lou was told the news she 'd won the competition with a special visit from Perry to her home. She said: “I feel as if I 'm in a dream! I think the mascot is great, he looks so cute. I am really excited to come to the Commonwealth Games and it will be amazing to see Perry in the Opening Ceremony.
“I chose a bull because of the Bullring in Birmingham, and I decided to use hexagons because they are the strongest shape and the whole world depends on each other. I am so excited that my design will be seen by so many people! ”