London Olympics take shape with schedule

LONDON - Usain Bolt will get the chance to go for a second 100 metres gold Sunday Aug 5 at the 2012 Olympics, according to the London Games timetable released Tuesday.

The Jamaican world record holder could double his gold haul Aug 9 in the 200m final.

The first action of the Games will be women’s football in Cardiff, Glasgow and Coventry Jul 25, two days before the official opening of the Games.

London Games chief Lord Sebastian Coe said the 100m final was expected to be a highlight.

“There is a recognition now that the men’s 100m is a pretty serious moment and we have planned that to be fairly early on the evening of Sunday, Aug 5,” he said.

“The things people remember are head-to-heads and we could potentially have one of the best given that Tyson Gay is going to make this a really tough run for Usain Bolt.”

Saturday Aug 4 was already being dubbed “Super Saturday” with highlights including the 100m women’s final and, for British fans, the heptathlon competition where Jessica Ennis will be hoping for gold.

In the aquatics centre, Monday July 30 could be a day to watch when swimming greats Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe could go head-to-head in the men’s 200m freestyle. Phelps is expected to go for gold in the 200m freestyle final Jul 30.

Elsewhere, track cycling begins at the velodrome Thursday, August 2, while street racing in London begins a day after the opening. The men’s football final is on the last Saturday of the Games when the athletics programme also reaches its finale.

Coe, writing in the Independent, said assembling the schedule had been “a herculean task which has taken the best part of two years.”

He added: “It’s a major piece of work and another landmark on the way to London 2012, not just for us at the organising committee, but also for the athletes who can now add some further dates to their intricate schedule.

“It makes things a little more “real” for organisers and competitors alike.”

The application phase for Olympic Games tickets opens Mar 15 and closes Apr 26.

There will be a total of 8.8 million tickets on sale - 75 per cent of which will be available to the public via the ticket application process.

Ninety per cent of tickets will be priced 100 pounds ($161) or under, two thirds of tickets will be priced 50 pounds or under and 2.5 million tickets will be priced at 20 pounds or under. There are reductions for people under 16 and over 60.