AssetID: 52921594
Headline: Ozzy The Bull Unveiled By Sharon Osbourne At Birmingham New Street Station
Caption: **RAW VIDEO** On Wednesday 26 July 2023 Sharon Osbourne helped unveil a giant iron bull named after her husband, Ozzy, at Birmingham New Street station. The 10-foot-tall beast was a centrepiece of the opening ceremony to last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Over the last month the huge moving mechanical sculpture has been installed on the station’s concourse for thousands of people to admire in the heart of Birmingham and Britain’s railway network. Ozzy – then known as the Raging Bull formed the climax of the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony alongside 50 women chain makers to tell the story of the West Midlands’ industrial past. The chain makers joined Sharon, Ozzy's older sister Jean Powell and Birmingham 2022 Gold medal-winning super heavyweight boxer Delicious Orie, for the event. The unveiling follows an overwhelming public vote for the Raging Bull to be renamed Ozzy - in honour of the Black Sabbath frontman who appeared as a surprise performance in the Games' closing ceremony in his hometown. The bull has, however, undergone something of a facelift, as new mechanisms installed so the bull can move its mouth, head, eyes, eyelids, and tail, and speakers have been added to make him roar. To be installed at the station the bull also had to be painstakingly dismantled, trucked to the station, and rebuilt. Ozzy’s big reveal was timed to happen ahead of Birmingham Festival 23, which starts on Friday. Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, and Network Rail chair 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, added: “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.” For the first ten days of his life in Birmingham, Ozzy will perform at quarter past the hour between 8am and 8pm, moving his head, roaring to the crowds, and swishing his tail.
Keywords: ozzy,ozzy osbourne,sharon osbourne,birmingham,commonwealth games,midlands,network rail,bull,beat,design,music,entertainment,tv,offbeat,art,sculpture
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