Schools and colleges across the UK are being encouraged to celebrate the athletes and cultures of the world as part of London 2012 World Sport Day, which will take place on Monday 25 June 2012.

The celebration, which will open National School Sport Week in England and Wales, will give thousands of young people across the UK the chance to learn about the athletes and cultures of the world.

For the next three weeks, Africa will come to a standstill. The Cup of Nations, the continent's most celebrated football competition, kicks off on Saturday, and will capture the attention of millions of fans around Africa.

Find yourself a dragon mask and prepare for the fireworks: Chinese New Year is coming to London! The longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar takes place on Monday 23 January, and is sure to be celebrated with some verve in the capital.

The central weekend to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee will take place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June, and will be marked with celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. Here is our look at some of the highlights of the four-day weekend. 

• The Queen’s visit to the Epsom Derby on 2 June.
• The Big Jubilee Lunch, taking place on 3 June, will build on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, encouraging people to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations.
• The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the fabulous flotilla.
• The BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace is a televised diamond jubilee concert on 4 June, with tickets available to UK residents by public ballot. Details on how to apply for the concert will be available at a later date.

Britain’s second largest city has made it onto the New York Times 45 Places to Go in 2012 list, ahead of the likes of Vienna and Antarctica.

Birmingham was ranked at number 19 by the influential US newspaper, and finished one place higher than outer space, indicating that the often-maligned city is finally being recognised as a global tourist destination.

“Could Britain’s second city be the first in food?”, the New York Times asked, ranking Birmingham on the list because of its growing culinary reputation.

The city was acclaimed for its 10-day Birmingham Food Fest, for restaurants such as Simpsons Restaurant and Turners of Harborne, and for the renowned Balti Triangle.

“The rise in popularity of Birmingham as a leisure and tourist destination has been rapid”, said Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

With London 2012 now just 200 days away, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) hosted the first Cabinet meeting of 2012 at the Olympic Park and unveiled a pioneering scheme aimed at promoting participation in the event. 

 

The official handover of the Olympic Park to to LOCOG was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who spoke at in the Aquatics Centre today.