How the race to win the rights to stage the 2012 Olympic Games unfolded, with London emerging as the successful candidate.
THE SINGAPORE SHOWDOWN
6 July 2005 - 1300 BST:
London bid team chief Lord Coe: "It's just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we always dreamed of in British sport.
"We can change the face of sport in the next seven years... and beyond."
6 July 2005 - 1246 BST:
IOC president Jacques Rogge opens the envelope and declares London will host the 2012 Olympics.
6 July 2005 - 1136 BST:
Three cities are already out of the running. Moscow goes first, followed by New York and then Madrid.
6 July 2005 - 1114 BST:
The cities are all given a corresponding number - three for Madrid, eight for London, four for New York, nine for Moscow and seven for Paris - but yet more explanations mean voting is yet to start.
6 July 2005 - 1100 BST:
IOC president Jacques Rogge announces the start of the voting procedure.
6 July 2005 - 0730 BST:
The London bid team, led by Lord Coe, take to the stands to make their final presentation. Three of the five cities have made their presentations, with just Madrid remaining.
6 July 2005
International Olympic Committee members meet in Singapore to cast their votes from five contenders - London, New York, Madrid, Moscow and Paris.
5 July 2005
Official opening ceremony for IOC session.
4 July 2005
The bid teams start final lobbying for support from the Olympic voters.
How London's bid progressed:
IOC's evaluation commission reports its findings following its inspection of the bidding cities in February and March.
Paris and London are said to have "very high quality" bids. There is hope for Madrid and New York, but Moscow faces criticism.
London withdraws an incentives package, which included free flights for athletes and financial help for Olympic teams, after an investigation into whether the promises contravened bidding rules.
Bid leader Lord Coe says London has "a very good chance" of winning the right to host the 2012 Games after the IOC's evaluation commission completes a four-day inspection of the city's bid.
The IOC cuts down the shortlist to five cities - London, Paris, Moscow, Madrid and New York.
London unveils its plans at a launch at the Royal Opera House.
BOA hands the IOC further details of its plans for venues, transport and security.
The deadline for cities to inform the IOC passes, leaving London, New York, Paris, Madrid, Moscow, Leipzig, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Havana to do battle for 2012.
The British Olympic Association officially notifies the International Olympic Committee that London will bid.
Cabinet Minister Tessa Jowell announces the Government will 'back London to the hilt' and will set aside £2.375bn to pay for the staging of the Games.
Tony Blair reported to have decided to back the bid but the Government makes no official comment.
The Cabinet defers its decision on whether to back the bid due to the looming war in Iraq.
London's bid debated in Parliament.