Ozzy the bull has returned to public display in his new home on Birmingham New Street station's concourse.
The giant mechanical sculpture was the centrepiece for last year's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the climax of which saw him appear alongside fifty women chainmakers representing the industrial history of the West Midlands.
Originally known as the Raging Bull and intended to be a temporary attraction, Ozzy proved so popular that he has been given a permanent home in the city.
This week, more than half of the cast members of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony helped to unveil the ten-metre-high sculpture.
A public vote chose to name it after local rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who made a surprise appearance at the Games' opening. Ozzy's wife Sharon and sister Jean attended today's unveiling, as did Birmingham 2022 Gold medal winning super heavyweight boxer Delicious Orie.
Network Rail and the West Midlands Combined Authority worked with the Games organisers to secure the future of the iconic artwork, after it was removed from public display last September.
An announcement was made in February that the bull would be permanently housed at New Street station. Since then, over seven thousand hours of intensive redesign and rebuilding work has been carried out, including:
- around half of the original bull retained with the other half remade
- new mechanisms installed to enable the bull ro move its mouth, head, eyes, eyelids, and tail, and speakers to enable it to roar
- rebuilding the legs and underside which can now be seen in full 360 degrees
- dismantling the bull, transporting it to the station by truck and rebuilding it on site.
The unveiling was arranged to take place in the run-up to the Birmingham Festival 23, which starts on Friday in Centenary Square and marks a year since the Commonweath Games began.
During his first ten days in his new home, he will perform at quarter past the hour between 8am and 8pm, moving his head, roaring and swishing his tail.
Network Rail chair Peter Hendy said: “We are really proud to have given Ozzy a new home at Birmingham New Street for thousands of people to enjoy, right at the heart of Britain's railway network.
“A huge amount of work has gone into making this happen, by many, many people over many months. Ozzy will now not only be a reminder of last year's unforgettable summer of sport, but also a new icon for the city and its future.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It's wonderful to see Ozzy the Bull make its triumphant return to Birmingham – taking pride of place in New Street Station with this official unveiling.
“Ozzy was the iconic and quite simply unforgettable centrepiece of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. One year on from the Games, it's a brilliant reminder of the pride we all felt, perfectly captures the spirit of the Games and will be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. My thanks to Network Rail for providing a base fit for this hometown hero.”
Gary Beestone, Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony technical director, said: “I'm delighted that the Bull that captured the imagination of so many in last summer's show now has found a permanent home in the heart of the city creating an iconic meeting point which will capture people's attention.”
Mike Kelt, Artem Special Effects CEO, said: “It has been a delightful challenge to rebuild the Bull for the people of Birmingham, who reacted to it with such emotion during and after the Games. I feel that part of my soul now belongs to the city and hope to visit often to see how Ozzy is getting on.”
