THE Spirit of Sport sculpture which dominates the Middlebrook roundabout in Horwich is to be celebrated at a unique event next month.

Sporting stars from the past and present whose faces appear on the 85ft statue are being invited to the Spirit of Sport celebration day at Bolton Arena, where they will be honoured.

Stars from football, rugby league, cricket, athletics and many of the other 47 sports represented are expected to attend, along with hundreds of sports coaches, volunteers and others who have contributed to the borough's sporting life at all levels.

The event will also be open to the public.

The council is contacting all of those whose faces make up the 650 etched tiles covering the sculpture's surface, as well as relatives of sporting heroes from the past.

All were nominated by their clubs and through an appeal in The Bolton News.

An exhibition will tell the story of the Spirit of Sport - from the drawing board to the day it was erected as a piece of art to tower over one of the main gateways in Bolton.

Visitors to the event will be able to find out about the sportsmen and women who appear on the statue and their achievements.

Sam Allardyce, who appears on the sculpture, said: "It is great that Bolton is so committed to sport, from grassroots to professional level.

"The Spirit of Sport is a fantastic landmark for the town and it recognises all the people who make sport in Bolton what it is today."

Cllr Akhtar Zaman, executive member for regeneration, said: "The Spirit of Sport shows how seriously we take sport in Bolton. The Spirit of Sport Day will be a special occasion when, for the first time, all the people connected with sport will gather in one place.

"The statue recognises all sportspeople equally - elite and amateur, past and present, professional and volunteers - and they will all be honoured on the day."

The £180,000 sculpture, which was installed in November 2005, is part of a £10 million economic development programme for the Middlebrook area.

It was paid for with funds from the European Regional Development Fund and it was designed by artists Eaton Waygood Associates, who were commissioned by the council.

The artists will be at the event to talk about their inspiration.

The Spirit of Sport Day will be held on Sunday, April 22, from noon until 4pm.

l To see the faces on the statue log on to: www.thespiritofsport.org.uk