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The B of the Bang
There has already been one 10K run named and run from this sculpture this year, another is scheduled for the 26th of June, might have a bash myself.
"At 184 feet tall, B of the Bang is just three feet shorter than Nelsons column and weighs 165 tonnes. The starburst design features 180 tapered steel spikes which are connected together at a central point, 22 metres above the ground, and the whole structure will be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees, considerably more than the Tower of Pisa in Italy. It symbolises the burst of speed and energy of an athlete launching out of the blocks and the title was inspired by Linford Christie, who famously started his gold medal winning Olympic 100 metres race 'on the B of the Bang'."
Quote from Manchester evening news May 23rd 2005....
"NEW fears were raised today over the safety of the controversial B of the Bang sculpture when a 7ft spike had to be cut off by firefighters after it was spotted blowing precariously in the wind.
Motorists had called police to report that the tip of a spike on the £1.42m, 184ft structure was hanging down. The incident is the latest in a string of problems which have dogged the structure, outside Manchester City's stadium.
The sculpture, which is the tallest in the country standing three times higher than the Angel of the North in Gateshead, was commissioned by the regeneration company New East Manchester to celebrate the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
It was meant to be in place before Manchester City moved into the new stadium in 2003, but there were a string of delays and the cost of the scheme increased from a projected £750,000 to £1.42m.
In January a 7ft piece of the sculpture fell off only days before a glittering launch ceremony was to take place. "
Ooops!!
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