In its latest release, UK Sport has detailed how 2011 will see up to 27 events in at least 22 different sports being staged in at least 12 different towns and cities across the UK.

UK Sport will be supporting five major international events in Olympic and Paralympic host venues.

These will be the World Badminton Championships at Wembley, World Junior Rowing Championships at Eton Dorney, World Triathlon Championships Series at Hyde Park, BMX Supercross World Cup at the Olympic Park and the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final at Greenwich Park.

The funding body also hopes to confirm its support for a further two major events taking place in Olympic venues in 2012: the Track Cycling World Cup and the Diving World Cup, both at the Olympic Park.

All this will mean that 85 per cent of Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sports will have staged at least one major world or European level competition on home soil in the six months preceding the London 2012 Games.

"UK Sport will be bringing some thrilling sporting action here in the run-up to 2012," said Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012.

"Spectators will be able to experience some of our Olympic venues in an exciting atmosphere prior to the Games and we look forward to working with UK Sport on this programme.

"Some of these events will also give us an opportunity to test our operational plans for 2012.

"Olympic tickets go on sale in March and we urge people to sign up and register their interest on www.tickets.london2012.com."

UK Sport's World Class Events Programme, which is currently backed by £3.5 million per year of National Lottery funding, expanded in 2007 following London's successful bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a doubling of investment to help ensure the UK's sports and athletes would be best prepared come 2012.

Over 100 major international events will have been brought to the UK as part of this 2007-2012 programme to help British athletes prepare for competing at a home Games, and build expertise so that the UK can continue to host the biggest events in world sport long after the London Games is over.

"We are delivering the most comprehensive programme of major sporting events ever staged by an Olympic and Paralympic host nation, and setting a new international benchmark for future hosts," said Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport.

"The fantastic calendar of events to be staged here in the UK in 2011 offers the British public a great opportunity to help give our athletes, volunteers and officials the best possible final preparation for their home Games in 2012."

Hugh Robertson (pictured), Minister for Sport and the Olympics, added: "One of the Government's key policy objectives has been to capture a series of key international sports events in both the run up to London 2012 and thereafter.

This full and exciting programme will allow people across Britain to see the stars of London 2012 for themselves and will inspire many others to take up sport."

Sir Craig Reedie, IOC executive board member, commented: "UK Sport's World Class Events Programme has provided outstanding event hosting experience for Britain's national governing bodies in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and will help in attracting, in legacy, more world class events to the country for years to come.

"I look forward to seeing the post-2012 programme take shape in the coming months and years."

Sarah Springman, president of British Triathlon and vice-president of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), added: "Working with UK Sport, Upsolut Sports UK and other domestic partners has been integral to the establishment of the London Hyde Park event in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series.

"We look forward to returning to Hyde Park for the third consecutive year on 6/7 August 2011."

UK Sport has also completed detailed planning for the UK's programme of major international sporting events from 2013-2018.

This programme will receive a budget of £5 million per year and will seek to use the catalysts of London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 to establish the UK as the world's leading host of major international sporting events.

To see a full list of the 2011 World Class Events Programme, including both confirmed and targeted events, click here.

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