Following interest in Manchester’s impact on the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, Manchester Arndale has been working with local artist David Gee to commission a large-scale art project to be displayed in the centre.

The Didsbury based David Gee creates what you could call giant ‘doodles’, and he’s travelled the world (with a pen!) to create these large pieces of art and the Arndale Centre has chosen an eye-catching space at one of our busiest entrances to the centre to display the art (space is 10m long x 2m tall).

The project follows recent reports that Manchester would have been fourth in the Olympic medal table if it was a country. Located in Exchange Court by the Next store, the artwork also features well-known landmarks including Manchester Arndale, the Town Hall and the Mancunian Way.

Among those showing off their success in the mural are local newlyweds Jason Kenny and Laura Trott and other Manchester-based athletes at one of the city’s medal hubs, the Velodrome. 

Cyclists Jody Cundy MBE and Megan Giglia feature alongside Paralympic swimming heroes Tom Hamer and Stephanie Slater, who both train at the National Performance Centre at Manchester’s Aquatics Centre. Para-archer John Stubbs, who hails from Bowden Vale and trains at Eccles Archery Club, is also represented. All five athletes joined Centre Director David Allinson and Councillor Pat Karney at Manchester Arndale to launch the project.

David Allinson, centre director at Manchester Arndale, said: “Manchester has a rich sporting culture and we’re proud to see so many medals from our home-grown athletes, as well as those who choose to live and train here. Being in the centre of the city, we wanted to do something extra special to give our local heroes a fitting celebration. The results were so impressive we had to find a 10 metre space to fit them all on!”

David Gee added: “This is a fantastic project to be involved with. I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world as an artist, but being able to produce something so unique at home as my biggest ever challenge is a real honour. I hope our athletes and visitors to the centre enjoy the mural and take a moment to appreciate Manchester’s amazing achievements.”

Mancunians and the city’s tourists will be able to spot their favourite Manchester-based Olympic and Paralympic stars on the mural, which is almost 10 metres in length and represents athletes born in Greater Manchester, or who now live and train in the area.

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