We’re getting excited for the start of the Olympic Games 2012 on Friday and to kick it off in true style Turner Prize winning artist and musician Martin Creed is helping to ring in the start by calling on anyone who owns a bell to ring it on the 27 July at 8.12am for three minutes.

The programme, entitled Work NO. 1197: All the bells in the country rung as quickly and loudly as possible for three minutes, has been commissioned by the 2012 London Festival and is the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad.

The nationwide piece is designed to encourage the population to come together and participate in signaling the opening of the games. Across the country, national volunteers will be poised to signal the opening of the games, while organisers are encouraging anyone with a doorbell, bike bell… any type of bell, to start ringing at 8.00am as a sign of national unity and pride.

Of the project Martin commented:

“Whenever I’ve heard bells, whether it’s at a wedding or whatever, it makes me feel happy…I thought that a big work like this…to celebrate the start of the Olympics would be exciting and brilliant…but it totally relies on people to make it happen.”

Martin’s own performance will be played on Radio 4 at exactly 8.00am and will be a signal for the rest of the country to start ringing their bells. Whether you planned to wake up for the beginning of the games or not, the likelihood is somewhere not too distant will be a bell to rouse you from your sleep.

To sign up and be part of this special Olympic moment and join the festivities, head to www.allthebells.com and fill in the online form.

Words: Lee Hall