Advertisement

London Olympics gaffe: Watch culture secretary Jeremy Hunt nearly hit woman with broken hand bell (VIDEO)

LONDON — The morning of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony was welcomed with a coordinated, nationwide celebration that featured everyone from children to Big Ben ringing bells for three minutes.

[ Related: Michelle Obama meets with Team USA ]

Jeremy Hunt is the secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport in the U.K., and a member of Parliament. Standing on the HMS Belfast, he decided to ring in the London Games as well … and nearly smacked a nearby woman with a flying bell:

"OK there we are …"

From the BBC:

Writing later on Twitter, Mr Hunt said: "Oops bell broke taking part in Martin Creed's ringing in of the Games...no one hurt but classic #twentytwelve moment."

He told BBC News he was a "big fan" of BBC comedy Twenty Twelve, a satire about Olympic games organisers, and "I now have my very own Twenty Twelve moment".

"It was a clanger, if you'll forgive the pun," he added.

A "clanger" being a colloquial term for a "mistake." A "bell end," which Hunt was left holding … well, that's something entirely different.

Here's the disco remix:

More Olympic coverage from the Yahoo! Sports network:
Banned Greek triple jumper 'bitter and upset' following expulsion
Competition is the key to the United States' gymnastic success
Photos: Royals greet Olympic torch in England