Hospitality Focus London 2012 : Sporting Highlights

Saturday 28 July

The Games explode into life with the opening ceremony and record Olympian Michael Phelps defends his 400m freestyle title in a busy day at the pool, while rowing heats begin at Eton Dorney.

Sunday 29 July

Team GB’s Rebecca Adlington defends her title in the women’s 400m freestyle swimming. Artistic gymnastics offers other medal hopes for the home nation.

Monday 30 July

Watch out for a showdown in the 200m freestyle final and/or the 4x100m freestyle relay between Aussie legend Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps. Young GB medal hope Tom Daley dives the 10m synchronised platform final.

Tuesday 31 July

Women’s team gymnastics promises to be a highlight, as do Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly and Mary King for Team GB in the eventing in the spectacular Greenwich Park.

Wednesday 1 August

Team GB’s rowers should take home a number of medals at Eton Dorney, including the men’s eight. Also Daniel Keatings in the individual all-round gymnastics and Adlington et al in the womens’ 4x200m freestyle relay.

Thursday 2 August

A strong showing for Team GB in the cycling sprints, plus the hotly tipped Brit Francesca Halsall in the 100m freestyle swimming. It’s also a big day for the female gymnasts at the North Greenwich Arena.

Friday 3 August

Team GB’s star heptathlete Jessica Ennis begins her bid, Adlington defends her 800m freestyle title in the pool, Team GB defends its team pursuit title in the Velodrome and Katherine Grainger is a strong hope in the women’s double sculls.

Saturday 4 August

Ennis in the 100m to decide the heptathlon, Mo Farah in the 10,000m, the British women chasing a gold in the cycling team pursuit, lightweight double sculls on the water and 1,500m freestyle in the pool.

Sunday 5 August

We should see Usain Bolt in the 100m final and Team GB’s Christine Ohurogu in the 400m. Elsewhere for GB, Ben Ainslie defends his Finn class sailing title and Louis Smith eyes a podium spot in the gymnastics. Rafael Nadal v Andy Murray in the men’s tennis final?

Monday 6 August

Chris Hoy defends his men’s sprint medal in the velodrome, Team GB has a good chance of medals in the uneven bars as well as the sailing and showjumping final. Welshman Dai Greene makes his bid in the 400m hurdles.

Tuesday 7 August

Team GB on show on the final day in the velodrome, with particular hopes in the women’s sprint for Victoria Pendleton, while the Kenyans are predicted to clean up in the 1,500m final.

Wednesday 8 August

Basketball, handball and water polo reach the quarter-final stage, with the women’s beach volleyball finals at Horse Guards Parade. Team GB’s sailors could take medals and Cuban Dayron Robles is the star in the 110m hurdles.

Thursday 9 August

Team GB Phillips Idowu remains favourite to win the triple jump, Usain Bolt takes on the 200m and the men go for gold in the beach volleyball. Other British hopes in the canoe sprint and the equestrian.

Friday 10 August

Team GB is in with a good chance of making the women’s hockey final, while Tom Daley should be diving in the 10m platform preliminaries. Stadium highs include the women’s 1,500m and the men’s 4x400m relay.

Saturday 11 August

Look out for Team GB in the men’s 4x100m relay – they won gold in 2004 – and the 200m canoe sprint, as well as Tom Daley in the 10m platform diving final. The men’s hockey final will be another highlight.

Sunday 12 August

The Games’ finale includes the basketball final – a chance to see the Dream Team in action  – and GB’s medal bid in the modern pentathlon as London gallops towards the Closing Ceremony and handover to Rio.

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This article first appeared in Square Meal Venues & Events Autumn 2011.