The London Olympic Games and presidential elections in Russia, France and the US are among the main events in 2012. Here is a look at what the year has in store.

January

1: EU: Denmark takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency.
1-15: Argentina, Chile, Peru: The Dakar Rally.
21-February 12: Gabon, equatorial guinea: Football’s Africa Cup of Nations.
25-29: Davos, Switzerland: The 42nd World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org).

February

6: London: Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the 60th anniversary of her accession to the British throne.
19: Athens: Greece holds legislative elections.
26: Hollywood: The 84th Oscars ceremony (www.oscars.org).

March

2: Tehran: Iran holds ­legislative elections.
4: Moscow: Russian ­presidential election.

April

22: Paris: First round of French presidential ­election.

May

6: Paris: Second round of French presidential ­election.

June

1: Poland, Ukraine – Euro 2012 football championships.
10, 17: Paris: France holds legislative elections.
18-19: Los Cabos, Mexico: Group of 20 (G20) summit.
20-22: Rio de Janeiro: World conference on durable development (www.earthsummit2012.org).

Olympic Rings in St Pancras Station greeting arriving passengers in preparation for 2012 Olympic Games.Olympic Rings in St Pancras Station greeting arriving passengers in preparation for 2012 Olympic Games.

July

1: EU: Cyprus takes over the bloc’s presidency.
1: Mexico City: Presidential election.
27-August 12: London: The 2012 Olympic Games.

Cannes festival palaceCannes festival palace

August

12: Yeosu, South Korea: The 2012 world expo, themed The Living Ocean and Coast (www.worldexpo2012.com).
16-27: Cannes, France: The 65th film festival (www.festival.cannes.com). 15-22: Chicago: Group of Eight (G8) summit ­ (www.chicagog8.com).
20-21: Chicago: Nato summit.
27-30: Florida: The Republican convention will choose its candidate for the US presidential election.

September

8-9: Vladivostok, Russia: The annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum. ( http://apec.org ).

October

12-14: Tokyo: The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Stockholm: Announcement of winners of the Nobel Prizes (www.nobelprize.org).

November

6: Washington: US Presidential election.

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