Fly-through video shows incredible new vision for TraffordCity, including £250m waterpark (2024)

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Manchester boxer Patrick Brown qualifies for Paris 2024 OlympicsDanny Jones

Manchester-born and bred boxer Patrick Brown has officially qualified for the 2024 Olympics after an impressive display in the final bouts of the Road to Paris event in Italy earlier this week.

The local fighter based out of the Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club and Sale West ABC sealed his place as part of the Team GB Boxing squad travelling to the French capital this summer following his unanimous win over Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki.

Pat emerged victorious in the impressive heavyweight matchup and it’s safe to say there’s plenty to be excited about with one of our own heading to the Olympic Games in July.

Having only been with GB Boxing for just a couple of years and fought 21 amateur fights, it was a great achievement for the native talent to be the first to qualify for the big stage in just a few months’ time.

Speaking on the clubs so close to his heart, Brown said: “Words can’t describe how I feel. I could cry my eyes out! I’m just showing to my amateur club at Moss Side Fire Station and Sale ABC, and the kids there, that if they keep going and work hard, anything is possible.”

As for the club itself, they shared images of numerous aspiring athletes training hard taking a well-earned break to cheer on Pat and witness him get past his opponent in fine fashion, scoring 30-27across the board.

Celebrating the result from an alumnus of the disused fire station, Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel said: “I’m incredibly proud of Pat, all the trainers and coaching staff at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club.

“To qualify for the Olympics 2024 is a phenomenal achievement and I wish Pat the very best of luck in Paris.” You could tell how much it meant to the 24-year-old too — as well as his dad, who dedicated the landmark moment to.

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He went on to give special thanks to Moss Side Fire Station BC to head coach Nigel Travis, “who works tirelessly at the boxing club developing young people.”

“Raising aspirations through sport enables our service to work at the very heart of our local communities”, says Russel, adding: “I’m sure Pat’s incredible achievement will inspire other young people for many years to come.”

Set up by Travis back in 2008 alongside three other firefighters, the Moss Side Boxing Club remains a key pillar of the wider community work done by the GMFRS’ Safer Communities and Interventions Team, working with young people across the region to build confidence, self-esteem, as well as fitness and skills through mentoring from positive role models — something well worth celebrating.

You can watch the full fight between Brown and Bereznicki down below and we wish Pat and the rest of his team all the very best at the Games later this year.

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Featured Images — Supplied/GB Boxing (via Getty/Instagram)

Trafford

Hello Kitty cafes pop-up in Greater Manchester Primark stores for iconic character’s 50th anniversaryEmily Sergeant

Primark has put pop-up Hello Kitty cafes inside two of its biggest Greater Manchester stores to celebrate 50 years of the iconic character.

Can you believe Hello Kitty is turning 50 this year? Time really does fly.

To properly mark the five-decade anniversary, Primark has teamed up with Japanese entertainment company – and Hello Kitty creators – Sanrio to unveil a brand-new collection inspired by the pop culture icon that features more than 100 exciting items across the womenswear, kidswear, and homeware sections.

The fashion retailer says the new range “embodies the timeless charm” of Hello Kitty that all generations know and love.

From cosy loungewear, and playful accessories, to graphic tees, collectable bags, adorable nightwear, and so much more, each piece of the extensive range is said to be “infused” with the signature kawaii style of the beloved character, according to Primark.

As part of Primark’s commitment to “providingaffordable choices for everyone”, prices for the new collection start at just £1 for accessories, and go up to £25 as the maximum.

In a bid to celebrate the collection and launch it into stores, Primark has also announced the opening of the ‘Hello Kitty Café’ in select locations across the UK – with Primark’s stores in Manchester on Market Street, and at Trafford Palazzo, being two of the locations chosen.

Customers at the pop-up cafes will, apparently, have the opportunity to be “immersed into the vibrant world of Hello Kitty”.

Open now right through until June, the cafes feature Instagram-worthy décor and serve up an array of limited-edition treats inspired by Hello Kitty, such as sweet waffles and savoury ‘bow’ buns, alongside themed beverages like bubble teas and shakes.

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And, if you’re lucky, you might even get to meet Hello Kitty herself when she makes a surprise appearance at the stores over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.

“Hello Kitty has been a cultural phenomenon since her debut in 1974, captivating hearts around the globe with her cute aesthetic,” commented Sarah Jackson, who is the Director of Licensing at Primark, as the new collection was unveiled this week.

“At Primark, we pride ourselves on our extensive license offering, and we’re thrilled to reveal our new collection and mark another exciting chapter in Hello Kitty’s enduring legacy.

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“We want to offer our customers an unforgettable in-store experience and we’re delighted to once again transform our Primarket cafés into a Hello Kitty haven in five locations across the UK.”

Featured Image – Primark