Perry, the official mascot of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, today ‘graduated’ from the University of Birmingham after being awarded a ‘Perryfessorship’.
George Christian, Guild of Students Sports Officer and Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Relations and University Lead for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games presented the iconic multi-coloured bull with his graduation scroll in a special ceremony held in the University’s historic Great Hall.
Perry was welcomed to the campus by staff and students, meeting graduands and their families ahead of the Sport and Exercise Science graduation ceremony.
The popular mascot followed tradition and walked under the clock tower ‘Old Joe’ in mortar board and gown, as thousands of graduates do every year at the University.
We look forward to welcoming athletes, spectators and guests from around the world when we host the hockey and squash competitions.
Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Relations and University Lead for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Brummie bull’s visit came as the University prepares to host Birmingham 2022 hockey and squash competitions– events that are expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators to the Edgbaston campus during the course of the games. As an Official Partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the University is also an athletes’ village and has signed the most comprehensive partnership agreement of any University in the history of the Commonwealth Games.
Cathy Gilbert commented: “Welcoming Perry to the University’s beautiful campus brought home just how close we are to the Games as the excitement continues to build. It was marvellous to see our graduating students engaging with Perry and taking selfies – a real bonus to an already memorable day!
“We are a civic university with a global outlook and our Commonwealth connections in education and research are deep and wide-ranging. We look forward to welcoming athletes, spectators and guests from around the world when we host the hockey and squash competitions.”