Commonwealth Games 2018: Inflatable Migaloo finds new home on the Gold Coast
IT STOLE the show at the controversial Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, but it’s been MIA ever since. Now, the Premier has announced that the giant, floating white whale that captured headlines around the world will fly again.
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THE gigantic inflatable Migaloo which stole the show at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games has found a permanent home on the Gold Coast.
The blimp-like tribute to the albino humpback whale which makes an annual migration past the Gold Coast was a surprise star at the opening ceremony, but his fate became clouded after The Courier-Mail last week revealed he had been deflated and compressed in to a storage box.
However, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will today announce the whale’s new home, revealing the iconic opening ceremony character would remain on the Gold Coast permanently at the city’s brand-new Home of the Arts (HOTA).
“It makes sense to keep the iconic and memorable whale on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“People flock to the Gold Coast every year in the hope of catching a glimpse of the real Migaloo during migration.
“Through this announcement, the Games whale will play an important role in promoting the legacy of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“My government introduced special laws to protect Migaloo while he travels off the coast of Queensland so it’s great to be able to honour him with an official position at the Home of the Arts.”
Games Minister Kate Jones said she was proud that the whale would stay on the Gold Coast.
“The whale, decorated with beautiful artwork by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, stole the hearts of Queenslanders at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games so it’s only fair that we look after him now,” she said.
“He’ll be taken out of storage in coming weeks and transported to the Home of the Arts where he’ll be used as a mascot for future festivals and events.
“This is a great legacy outcome for Gold Coasters who will see plenty of the whale in years to come.”
Unlike Brisbane’s famous Matilda, which has become a tourist attraction around the state since her star turn at the 1982 Games, Migaloo’s less durable materials means it could not be placed on display outdoors for any length of time and measuring 27.5 metres long by eight metres high, it is too big to be permanently inflated indoors.
It also requires a team of 24 trained crew to operate and manoeuvre the great beast.
Instead, it will be stored at HOTA and unveiled for special events at the state-of-the-art cultural centre.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the white whale would feel right at home at HOTA.
“We will look to utilise the striking display during our signature arts and cultural events throughout the year. I can see him featuring at our annual GLOW Festival later this year,” he said.
Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Inflatable Migaloo finds new home on the Gold Coast
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