LONDON 2012: Organisers reveal highlights of event schedule

By James Toney, Sportsbeat

LONDON 2012 have revealed some of the highlights of their provisional schedule for the Olympic Games - now less than two years away.

CAT OUT OF BAG: Locog director of sports Debbie Jevans confirms a few of the highlights of the London 2012 event schedule (Reuters)

The men's and women's cycling road race will be staged on the opening weekend of the Games, while the marathons will be held on the middle Sunday and final day of the Games.

Locog's director of sport Debbie Jevans also confirmed that the early rounds of the archery competition, which will be staged at Lord's Cricket Ground, will be held before the Olympic flame has been lit, on the same day as the opening ceremony.

Tennis events, which will be staged at the All England Club at Wimbledon, will take place in the first week of the Games in order to afford players maximum recovery time for the US Open in New York in late August.

Jevans also revealed many football matches - which will be staged in Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, in addition to London - will be double-headers.

She also added there would be more ticketed sessions than in 2008, 59 in total, with organisers learning from the long eight-hour plus sessions timetabled in Beijing.

Locog chief executive Paul Deighton has already said he wanted shorter sessions on the timetable, in a bid to ensure those who bought tickets stayed in their seats.

Jevans revealed the provisional scheduling during the World Press Briefing, attended by more than 200 journalists from around the world.

The provisional schedule, which has been drawn up in consultation with international federations and broadcasters, will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee in November, pending approval early next year.