There are the five, colorful Olympic rings. And in London on Friday, there were some 40 chimes of Olympic ringing coming from one of the capital's most recognizable landmarks.

For three minutes, Big Ben -- Britain's iconic Clock Tower -- bonged to celebrate the first day of the London Olympics, kicking off a day of celebration that will culminate in a flashy opening ceremony.

Bells will ring there, too -- Queen Elizabeth II will officially open the games at the ceremony, due to start at 9 p.m., with the sound of a 27-ton bell forged at the 442-year-old Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which also made London's Big Ben.

Before the monarch sounds the chime, Big Ben and thousands of other bells rang across Britain from 8:12 a.m.