It sounds like a terrific idea - to ring in the London 2012 Olympics on July 27 by ringing all the bells in Britain. It's the brain child of Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed and it's part of the London 2012 Festival. The idea is that at exactly 8:12am on July 27, all the bells that can ring will be rung as fast and as loudly as possible for exactly three minutes - "Any Bell, Anyone, Anywhere" is the motto of the event. Church bells, school bells, town hall bells, hand bells, jingle bells, bicycle bells, dinner bells. Even bells on mobile phones and other mobile devices - you can download a special ringtone for iPhones, mp3 and WAV enabled mobile devices on the All the Bells website. The event is called "Work No.1197 All the Bells - all the bells in a country rung as quickly and loudly as possible for three minutes."
Will it work? Will all of Britain welcome the Olympics with a stupendous, nationwide peal of bells? Who knows. Even the artist himself has no idea and considers it "an absolutely absurd idea". You can find out, if you are in Britain, by opening the windows at 8:12 am on the Olympics opening day and listening. Or download the ringtone to take part yourself.