Dozens of hot air balloons fill the sky on the second day of the 2024 International Balloon Festival (FIG) in Leon, Mexico, 16 November 2024. (Photo by Luis Ramirez/EPA)

A hot-air balloon flies over Metropolitan Park during the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Leon, state of Guanajuato, Mexico, on November 16, 2024. (Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters)

Models present outfits made with air balloons during an international festival of air balloons design in Almaty, Kazakhstan, July 9, 2015. (Photo by Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

Hot air balloons in flight over Melbourne, Australia on January 24, 2022. (Photo by Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A giant floating replica of the Brazilian Christ The Redeemer statue rolled into Melbourne today ahead of next week’s World Cup, and the city wasn’t overly pleased with the display.

“A magician has spent the last 12 months creating a different amazing balloon model every day – including cartoon characters and even a life-sized balloon bike. Magician Rob Driscoll, or Robbie the Wizard as he is known in his magic act, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, has fashioned balloons into various shapes for the past year. He has spent time creating famous cartoon characters such as Gru from Despicable Me, Spongebob Squarepants and Sonic the Hedgehog, which he gives away to children at his shows”. – Caters News Agency. Photo: “Scorpian”. (Photo by Rob Driscoll/Caters News Agency)

A hot air balloon competition called “Grudziadzkie Zawody Balonowe” is held in Lisie Katy, central-northern Poland, 14 May 2021. The compe​tition is held for the eighteenth time. (Photo by Tytus Zmijewski/EPA/EFE)

People are seen watching hot air balloons fly overhead during a two-day international hot air balloon festival in Eshkol Park near the southern city of Netivot, Israel July 22, 2016. (Photo by Amir Cohen/Reuters)