Year Ahead for London 2012 - BOA vs. WADA Resolution; Mayoral Election; Torch Relay

(ATR) The opening ceremony on July 27 marks the culmination of seven years hard work by London Olympic stakeholders.

But there are many milestones before that date on the radar of LOCOG, the British Olympic Association, the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) and London mayor Boris Johnson.

With the Olympic Park "big build" now more than 90 percent complete, the Olympic Delivery Authority officially hands the site over to LOCOG early next year.

In the coming weeks, Dow Chemical is set to stoke more controversy over its Olympic sponsorship when its fabric wrap is installed to encircle the Olympic stadium. The company has been harshly criticized for its links to a gas disaster in Bhopal, India in 1984 that killed thousands.

The 200-days-to-go mark on Jan. 9 serves as a reminder to organizers and athletes of how close they are to the lighting of the Olympic cauldron and the start of the Games.

The next round of test events kicks off a day later with the Visa International Gymnastics at the North Greenwich Arena.

February heralds the start of volunteer training for the 70,000 so-called Games Makers. Feb. 11 marks 200 days until the Paralympics opening ceremony.

The velodrome gets a workout Feb. 16 to 19 with the UCI Track Cycling World Cup. Making a splash at the aquatics center is the FINA Diving World Cup slated for Feb. 20 to 26.

Following the reopening of the tender process to take over the Olympic Stadium after the Games, football and rugby clubs must submit bids to the OPLC by March 23. A winning bid will be named in May.

The IOC Coordination Commission led by Denis Oswald will conduct its final inspection of London's Olympic preparations March 28 to 30.

In April, the BOA will hope the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules in its favor in its high-profile legal challenge to the World Anti-Doping Agency finding the BOA non-compliant because of its long-standing anti-doping bylaw.

Expect U.K.-wide celebrations on April 18 at the 100-days-to-go milestone.

April also ushers in the final cluster of 2012 venue warm-ups. It's the May 4-7 British University & Colleges Sport Outdoor Athletics Championships that catch the eye – the first test event for the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium. The next day is the London Disability Grand Prix, the first Paralympic athletics test event.

On May 3, London mayor Boris Johnson faces a battle to hold onto the position when the mayoral election takes place. An important figure in London's Olympic preparations since he came to power in 2008, he is keen to lead the city through the Games under a second term. The man he deposed, Ken Livingstone, is Johnson's main opponent in the mayoral race.

Excitement builds for the Games with the lighting of the Olympic flame at Olympia in Athens on May 10.

The 70-day torch relay starts at Land's End in thesouthwest county of Cornwall on May 19. Two days later, celebrations will be held for the 100-days-to-go mark to the Paralympics.

Among the key moments for Olympic organizers in June are the London 2012 Festival on the 21st and the opening of the Main Press Centre on the 27th.

The Olympic Flame arrives in London on the evening of July 20.

Two days before the opening ceremony, the first Olympic events are held – women's football preliminary matches in Cardiff, Coventry and Glasgow.

Sprint king Usain Bolt is widely expected to make the 100m final, blue riband event of the Olympics, on Aug. 5.

The Games close on Aug. 12.

Then the focus switches immediately to venue conversions needed for the Paralympics.

The Paralympic Flame lighting takes place in London on Aug. 24, with the opening ceremony five days later. The Games close on Sept. 9.

After the dust has settled on the Olympics and Paralympics, London 2012 leaders will get together for a debrief.

The IOC has scheduled its London 2012 to Rio 2016 transfer of knowledge week for Nov. 14 to 21.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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