The Olympic Summer Games of 2012 will be opened in London this evening. Before the start of the Games, an event that spread far from just the city limits of London took place this morning. At 8.12 London time, all bells of towers and churches in Great Britain rung until 8.15 to signal the start of the Games of the XXX. Olympiad. Of course, “Big Ben” also rang its bells – as often as he had not done since King George VI. – the Queen’s father – was burried. The bell rang 40 times.

Berlin also rang its bells. The Bell Tower at the Olympiastadion Berlin rang from 9.12 to 9.15 this morning – at the same time as all bells in Great Britain.

England and the Bell Tower share a special relationship. After a devastating fire in 1947, the bell tower had the be demolished as it was severely damaged. The British occupying forces demolished the tower and the 10 ton heavly bell fell to the ground. Today, the original Olympic bell can be seen on the premises of the Olympiastadion Berlin. In 1962, the tower was rebuilt according to old photographs and plans and opened by the governing mayor of Berlin at the time, Willy Brandt.

The ceremony at the Bell Tower at the Olympiastadion Berlin saw the ambassador of the Kingdom of Great Britain, Simon McDonald, and Senator of the Interior Frank Henkel attend to support the official ringing of the bell.