Chris Hoy is competing at the Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester

UK Sport has launched a plan to stage a world-class sporting event in Britain every fortnight in the 1000 days until the start of the London 2012 Olympics.

The 64-event initiative covers 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, and represents a £32m investment.

It begins on Friday with the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester.

UK Sport boss John Steele said: "We believe this is the most comprehensive programme of events leading into a Games that any host has put together."

The chief executive added: "It will provide British athletes with the opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd and the public with a chance to experience world class sporting action in their local area."

Of the 64 events planned, 25 are already confirmed with organisers aiming to agree the remaining 39 in the near future.

We always hoped that hosting the Games would leave a legacy of more world-class events happening in this country, and it's great to see this is happening 2012 chairman Seb Coe

It will take in events across the UK, ranging from the Archery World Cup final in Edinburgh to the Shotgun World Cup in Dorchester.

Other events involved will be the BMX World Championships in Birmingham and the Blind Football World Championships in Hereford.

UK Sport expects over 17,000 competitors to take part in total, although the main benefit may turn out to be in terms of organisational preparation with over 13,000 volunteers required.

Some of the events listed on the programme will be on the London Organising Committee's official testing programme for Games readiness.

"UK Sport's support in staging world-level events that help train and develop the UK's technical officials ahead of 2012 is a vital part of the preparations for making sure that we hold a first-class Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012," said London 2012 chairman Lord Coe.

"We always hoped that hosting the Games would leave a legacy of more world-class events happening in this country, and it's great to see this is happening."

The initiative will involve Olympic events staged across the UK

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