In preparation for the Great North Run next Sunday, 10 September, an iconic Metro cube outside Tyne and Wear Metro's Heworth Interchange in Gateshead has been redesigned to incorporate a silhouette of Mo Farah's world-famous Mobot celebration.
The redesign is to acknowledge that this will be Mo's final competitive appearance in the Great North Run. The new look ‘MetMo' cube at Heworth Interchange is next to the Felling bypass, and will be seen by thousands of runners and spectators participating in next Sunday's half marathon.
The familiar yellow and black of the traditional Metro logo on the Metro cube has been swapped for a silhouette motif of Mo Farah's gold medal-winning Mobot dance move, where he arches his arms and points to the top of his head to make an ‘M' shape.
Nexus, the public body that owns and manages Metro, has redesigned this particular Metro cube as part of its own tribute to Mo Farah, Britain's most decorated long-distance runner. His career record includes winning four Olympic gold medals and six Great North. This is the first time that Nexus has redesigned one of it Metro cubes to celebrate a person's individual achievement.
The redesign has found favour with customers and Metro workers alike, with many of them taking time to pose for photos with the MetMo cube, and even attempting to the Mobot themselves.
As part of the countdown to the Great North Run, Sir Mo has recorded a series of announcements for broadcasting on the Metro public address system.
The solid font that is an instantly-recognisable symbol of Metro and is prominently displayed on cubes at Metro's 60 stations was created by the renowned graphic designer Margaret Calvert, who has done much to shape the visual identity of modern Britain.
Head of Station Delivery at Nexus, Lynne Dickinson, said: “The Metro cubes are a unique and an iconic part of life in our region, making them then perfect place to showcase a tribute to Sir Mo Farah ahead of his final race in the Great North Run.
“This is the first time that we have ever changed the logo on a Metro cube, but we really wanted to do something to celebrate Mo's amazing career, someone who is now just as synonymous with the proud history of the Great North Run.
“The Metro cube at Heworth will have the Mobot logo on for the next week or so. We are looking forward to seeing as many people as possible coming down to get their photos taken, and of course having a go at doing the Mobot.”
