Church bells, bicycle bells, handballs, ship's bells, and even mobile phones will sound across Britain in a "cacophonous, amazing sound" to mark the start of the Olympics, artist Martin Creed told Agence France Presse.

The 43-year-old Turner Prize winner was commissioned to create his "Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes" as part of the government's Cultural Olympiad, encouraging people to take in some culture along with the London 2012 Games.

Britain's newspapers breathed a sigh of relief Saturday and hailed Andy Murray becoming the first homegrown player to reach the Wimbledon men's tennis final in 74 years.

Pictures of Murray celebrating his semi-final win over France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga adorned the front pages of all Britain's major national newspapers -- including the Financial Times.

Six-time champion Roger Federer reached a record eighth Wimbledon final on Friday when he defeated world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the pair's 27th meeting but first on grass, Federer booked his place in his 24th Grand Slam final where he will face either Andy Murray or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Football's world governing body FIFA has agreed to allow the introduction of goal-line technology (GLT) at a meeting of the sport's executives here on Thursday.

The technology will be used at the Club World Cup in Tokyo in December, the Confederation Cup in 2013 and also the World Cup in 2014.

Asian football's governing body has welcomed the decision to lift a ban on women wearing headscarves during games, saying the move was "in keeping with the times."

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Thursday overturned its 2007 ban on the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, which it had previously argued was unsafe and increased the risk of neck injuries.

The London 2012 Olympics could give a £13 billion stimulus to the British economy over the next four years, Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday.

Outlining his vision for turning the event "into gold for Britain," the premier said the country was set to host an "outstanding Games" and that he expected their full cost to be recouped over time.

Lewis Hamilton is hoping that the latest upgrades to his McLaren car and significantly cooler conditions will boost his chances of delivering a home win to enhance his title challenge in Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old Englishman, who crashed out of third place at last month's sizzling European Grand Prix in Valencia, slipped from leading the drivers' title race to third and is now 23 points adrift of Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanksa will meet in Saturday's Wimbledon final in a battle of raw power against slender poise and expectation over hope.

Four-time champion Williams, the 30-year-old sixth seed, buried Victoria Azarenka under a record firestorm of 24 aces to reach her seventh Wimbledon final on Thursday, winning 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

Spanish Formula One driver Maria De Villota has lost her right eye as a result of an accident she suffered during testing in England on Tuesday, her Marussia team said Wednesday.

De Villota was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on Tuesday after a crash at Duxford Airfield circuit in Cambridgeshire, eastern England.

Kenya and Ethiopia are set to continue their traditional role as the strongest African medal contenders at the Olympics.

While South Africa may be unable to match the men and women from East Africa in podium appearances, they are desperate to better a dismal showing in Beijing four years ago when 253 athletes delivered just one medal between them.