A Guide to 2012

What You Need to Know

1. The 2012 London Olympics will take place in July and August, with 10,500 athletes set to go for gold in the UK capital.
2. Poland and Ukraine will host the Euro 2012 football championships, with Germany, Spain and the Netherlands among the early favourites.
3. Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. She will be only the second monarch to sit on the throne for 60 years.
4. Barack Obama will seek re-election in the 2012 US Presidential elections at the end of the year.
5. December 2012 will mark the conclusion of a b’ak’tun – a time period in the Mesoamerican Long Calendar. According to some New Age spiritualists, this will either herald the end of the world or usher in a new period of enlightenment.
6. Speculation is rife among royal-watchers that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could have their first child in the Diamond Jubilee year.
7. Meanwhile, some economists believe 2012 could see the demise of the single European currency.

What Will Happen…

London 2012 Olympics

The London 2012 Olympics will finally get underway on July 27 and run until August 12. The Games will see some of the world’s top athletes, including stars of the track, field and pool, go for gold in the UK capital.

This will be the third time London has hosted the modern Olympics – the only city to do so – and billions will have been spent in the lead-up to the opening ceremony, including the millions spent on new Olympic venues such as the centrepiece Olympic Stadium in the east of the city. In all, it is expected that around 10,500 athletes will compete in 302 events across 26 disciplines, though in the UK at least, most eyes will be on the home-grown talents of Team GB, with hopes particularly high for the rowing, road cycling, diving and swimming.

European Football Championships

As well as the Olympics, 2012 will also see the 14th European Championships held in Poland and Ukraine. Taking place between June 8 and July 1, the tournament will see 16 teams compete in eight host cities spread across the two countries.

England have been drawn in Group D, meaning they will play Sweden, France and Ukraine, with the top two in the group going through to the knockout stages. The Republic of Ireland, meanwhile, will play in Group C against Croatia, Italy and Spain.

Going into the tournament, Germany, along with the Netherlands and Spain have been named as the bookies favourites and those wanting to bet on Euro 2012 will find odds on those teams fairly short..

Diamond Jubilee

2012 will mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne, with the actual anniversary on February 6th. Given that Elizabeth will be only the second monarch to rule for 60 years – the other being Queen Victoria – the Diamond Jubilee will be widely-celebrated, both within Britain and across the Commonwealth.

In the UK, an extra Bank Holiday will be celebrated on June 5. With the Spring Bank Holiday moved to June 4, this will create a four-day-long public holiday. As well as a Diamond Jubilee concert in London, a flotilla will sail down the Thames and local authorities will allow street parties to be held up and down the country.

US Presidential Elections

Democrat Barrack Obama will be going for a second and final term as President in the 57th presidential elections, set to take place in December 2012. Obama will be running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, while it may take until the start of summer for the Republican Party to name its candidate.

What Might Happen…

The End of the World?

December 2012 will mark the conclusion of a b’ak’tun – a time period in the Mesoamerican Long Calendar that was used in pre-colonial Central America. That is, the end of the 2012 will bring to an end a 5,125-year-long cycle, with some observers arguing that, since the calendar is linear rather than cyclical, this will herald the end of the world.

However, exactly how the world will end is open to debate, even among new-age spiritualists. Some argue that, before the year is through, the Earth will collide with a black hole or an asteroid, while others even believe that a collision with a hitherto-unknown planet, named Nibiru, will be the cause of mankind’s demise.

On a more positive note, some believers in the ‘2012 Phenomenon’ believe the end of the year will just bring in a new era for mankind, with widespread spiritual transformation predicted by some.

Royal Birth?

Following the excitement that the Royal Wedding generated in the summer of 2011, speculation is rife that 2012 could see the arrival of a new addition to the Royal Family. However, neither the Duke nor the Duchess of Cambridge have indicated when – if at all – they will be starting a family. Should a royal birth happen, however, it would surely boost the popularity of the monarchy significantly, particularly as it would take place in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

The End of the Euro?

Alongside certain economic commentators, the London Mayor Boris Johnson has predicted the likely demise of the single European currency in 2012. At the very least, some economists argue, the credit crisis will see some countries drop out of the Euro, even if the currency isn’t completely doomed.

What You Need to Know

• Find out more about events economic and political events coming up in 2012 with this forecast from the International Business Times.
• Didn’t get a ticket? Read our guide to seeing the Olympics for free.
• Could Euro 2012 be England’s tournament? If you fancy a flutter read our guide to spread betting on sport.