Steve Ovett statue to be unveiled on Brighton seafront today

Brighton-born Olympic gold medallist Steve Ovett will see his new statue unveiled on the seafront today (Tuesday 24 July).

He will also be made a freeman of Brighton and Hove in honour of his achievements.

At the same time Brighton University is asking for anyone who has a photo of the original Ovett statue in Preston Park to get in touch.

The university is trying to recreate a digital replica using 3D technology to record the design for posterity.

Sculptor Peter Webster, a former art teacher at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, has already helped the university team.

Mr Webster designed both the original statue, which was stolen, and the new one in Madeira Drive, close to where the Brighton Marathon finishes.

The remains of the original statue will go on show at an exhibition in August. The public will be able to see first-hand how the university digitally records ancient artefacts at the exhibition from 27 July to 25 August.

Professor David Arnold, the university’s lead academic behind the exhibition, said that the 3D research could in the future be used to trace and identify stolen works of art.

He said: “Typically, one UK public sculpture is lost every week.

“The Public Monuments and Sculptures Association is often reporting thefts – Henry Moore’s Sundial, stolen this month, Alan Thornhill’s Horizontal Ambiguity, stolen in May, and Barbara Hepworth’s Two Forms which was stolen last December.

“3D recording offers an innovative type of documentation that could help identify stolen works and aid restoration.”

Anyone with photos of Steve Ovett’s original statue should send them to 3dc-info@3dcoform.eu and is asked to put “Steve Ovett photograph” in the subject box.