It's not all gloom and doom. Aside from economic woe, 2012 will offer a few welcome diversions. Europe will be momentarily relieved of its turmoil by football, in the form of Euro 2012 in sunny Poland and Ukraine. In July, the Olympics (love 'em or hate 'em) will ride into town and in May, lest we forget, there's the Greco-Roman wrestling World Cup in Russia. Political contests this year will be almost as much fun - the old foes Ken and Boris will do battle in the London mayoral election and, across the Atlantic, potential Republican candidates will keep up their farcical show until the presidential race begins in earnest ahead of the election in November. Then, at last, Barack Obama will be back to what he does best: making a world-beating stump speech. So cheer up, tune in and let the wrestling begin.