Paddy Power reveal ‘Roy The Redeemer’.

LONDON, Thursday 7th June 2012: Paddy Power has responded to the plight of anxious England fans who felt their team needed ‘divine intervention’ for success in this month’s European Football Championship with the construction and unveiling today of Roy the Redeemer on the white cliffs of Dover.

Standing a breath-taking 100ft tall the stunning structure is a reproduction of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks Rio de Janeiro.

The audacious build which replaces the face of Christ with a new ‘saviour’, England Manager Roy Hodgson, is visible from the coast of France, sixteen miles away.

It is hoped that the looming face of Roy the Redeemer will unsettle ‘Les Bleus’ ahead of England’s opening game on Monday.

The structure took a team of engineers two months to create and one week to install on the white cliffs near St Margaret’s Bay in Dover.

The dimensions of the structure replicate those of its famous Brazilian inspiration – standing 100ft tall on an 8ft tall rostrum with an arm span of 96ft. The 8 ton sculpture is kept in place by two forty ton cranes positioned behind the statue.

The inspiration for Roy the Redeemer was sparked as part of the Paddy Power’s ‘We Hear You’ initiative which acts on comments and suggestions received from customers through social media.

With numerous setbacks to the England team including the loss of key players such as Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry combined with players such as Scott Parker and Danny Welbeck who are struggling to find fitness, the statue is a potent symbol of hope when expectations for success are at an all time low.

Ken Robertson from Paddy Power said “Since Christ the Redeemer was constructed in Rio de Janeiro in 1931, Brazil has gone on to become the world’s leading footballing nation. We’re hoping some of that success can rub off on England in time for their Euro 2012 opener against France on Monday. Anyway, at the end of the day this is definitely the closest Roy will get to Rio this month!”

Paddy Power have also pledged to refund losing bets on England’s Euro 2012 opener against France if England win.

About Roy the Redeemer

· Floor to forehead the height of the structure is 108ft
· The width is 96ft
· Weight – 8 tons
· The structure is made from 160 x 8ft x 4ft panels. Each panel is comprised of 22ml HDF weighing 32kg a sheet
· The build involved 96 hours of continuous printing

Visit roytheredeemer.com for exclusive pictures and video footage.

Paddy Power is Ireland’s largest bookmaker and a leading provider of gaming services in the UK, Australia, Italy, France, Canada and Ireland. Founded in 1988 Paddy Power is a publicly quoted company and is listed on both the Irish and London Stock Exchanges (www.paddypowerplc.com).

PICTURES/VIDEO/INFO: Taylor Herring PR +44 (208) 206 5151