Published: February 2nd, 2012
by DAN CARRIER

THE audacious plan by Brazilian tourist chiefs to put a giant replica of Rio’s landmark Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of Primrose Hill could be axed – amid fears the surprise factor has been ruined.

Following what be­came a world exclusive for the New Journal, the newspaper was contacted by the PR company working for Embratur, the Brazilian Tourist Board, and issued with a statement hinting the proposal may now be quietly shelved.

The news comes despite the idea gaining as many supporters as it did objectors following our story in last week’s issue.

A spokesman for Embratur would not be drawn on crucial questions over design or when they might apply for planning permission. Our questions went unanswered as we went to press last night (Wednesday). The fact the idea was discussed has not been denied but Embratur, looking to celebrate the Olympic hand­over from London to Rio, where the Games will take place in 2016, say it was one of a number of possibilities.

The statement said:  “We are surprised to see this story in the news, as first reported by Camden New Journal, as this is only a concept that was being considered as part of a wider platform of promotional activities for Embratur (the Brazilian Tourism Board) and the Brazilian Government for 2012, when the focus moves from London to Rio.”

It added: “Early exploratory conversations were being started with the Primrose Hill community stakeholders and local authorities to gauge local opinion for a temporary installation that we hoped would be a celebratory landmark that helped to give the London Borough of Camden and Primrose Hill an opportunity to be part of the Olympic story.”

Emails seen by the New Journal, which were sent to prominent people in the area asking for their opinion and seeking to arrange a public meeting, added that Embratur wanted to keep the idea quiet to allow for an Olympic “wow” factor and that its unveiling would be a surprise.

Yet because the site is a public park and would also need planning permission the scheme would soon be made public anyway, even without the New Journal's scoop. Nearly every national newspaper picked up the story from our pages and television crews made a beeline to the park to quiz passers-by.

There were radio phone-ins in London and fierce debates raged on internet discussion boards. Record numbers flocked to the New Journal’s website to comment. Twitter was full of reaction with famous names such as Dame Joan Bakewell and Ricky Gervais and India Knight.

There were suggestions of other items that could be placed on the hill instead, including a statue celebrating Camden Town ska band Madness.

It also prompted a discussion of what we could send to Rio in return – including the Olympic Stadium.

Story of a world exclusive

WHEN I received a tip-off from a trusted contact that some plans were afoot for a temporary piece of art based on Rio’s Christ the Redeemer on the summit of Primrose Hill, my nose started twitching.

I did some background research, and it all hung together: the Brazilian tourist board where looking into the practicalities of making a copy of the landmark to (temporarily) mark the end of the London Olympics and the beginning of Rio’s tenure as the Olympic City.

We are used to our work in the New Journal being lifted by other news outlets, but quite how a fun tale like this took off in this age of social media was surprising. My phone started ringing at 8am on Thursday morning, as soon as the New Journal had hit the streets, and it did not stop. I had to deal with calls from other newspapers, and TV and radio stations asking for information or to reveal where I got the story from. On the Friday I was invited on BBC Radio London – all jolly good to publicise the work we do at London’s only independent local newspaper.