2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
Porto defeated Académica 1–0, with one goal in the last minute of the game from newly acquired Colombian forward Jackson Martínez, and collected a record fourth consecutive Super Cup, raising the club's tally to 19 trophies in this competition (67.8% of wins). In Portugal, the final was televised live in HD on RTP1. The game televised on RTP1 saw an average view rate of 974,000.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Background
Porto were appearing in their 28th Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in which it was their seven consecutive Supertaça appearance since 2006. Porto went into the match as 18-time winners (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011). Of their 27 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira appearances, they had lost nine times (1979, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008). Académica de Coimbra were appearing in their first Supertaça.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Background
In Porto's and Académica's history, the two teams in their entire history had met on 128 different occasions. Porto had accumulated ninety victories whilst Académica had accumulated sixteen victories. Of those 128 encounters, twenty two of those games had ended in ties. The last meeting between these two teams in domestic league action saw Porto draw with The Students, 1–1 at the Estádio do Dragão in March 2012. The last meeting between these sides in the domestic cup competition saw Académica defeat the Dragons , 3–0 en route to the 2012 Taça de Portugal Final.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Entry
Porto qualified for the 2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira by winning the 2011–12 Primeira Liga. They fought off competition from Benfica and Braga to capture their twenty-sixth league title in their history. Six games from the end of the season, Benfica were one point ahead of Porto. The next four games for each side proved to be vital. From gameweek 24 to 27, Benfica managed seven points from a possible twelve whilst Porto capitalized on Benfica's mistakes of dropping points and managed to capture maximum of 12 points from 12. The pivotal win which clinched Porto the title was a 2–0 away win against Marítimo, where the following day Benfica drew their game away to Rio Ave which resulted in Porto capturing their second consecutive league title.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Entry
Académica qualified for their very first Supertaça by winning the 2012 Taça de Portugal Final, beating Sporting CP 1–0 in the final at the Estádio Nacional. En route to the final, Académica de Coimbra defeated teams from the Primeira Liga, Liga de Honra and the Portuguese Second Division. Académica started their cup campaign defeating Oriental, 1–0. The most notable win en route to the final saw them face their opposition of the 2012 Supertaça in the fourth round, where they defeated the Dragons, 3–0 at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Entry
Following their most notable win in their cup run, they went on to defeat Leixões 5–2 and the Desportivo das Aves 3–2 in the next two rounds. The draw for the semi-finals saw them draw Oliveirense of the Liga de Honra. The semi final was contested over two legs with Académica winning the first game 1–0 and drawing the second game at the Estádio Carlos Osório 2–2. Académica would win the semi final 3–2 on aggregate and therefore book their place in the cup final for the first time since 1969. A fourth-minute goal from Marinho in the 2012 Taça de Portugal Final saw them capture the Taça de Portugal for the first time since 1939.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Officials
The match officials for the game were confirmed on 7 August 2012. Olegário Benquerença of Leiria was named as referee. Benquerença had previously officiated the 2005 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira between Benfica and Vitória de Setúbal at the Estádio Algarve. Aside from the Supertaça, Benquerença had also officiated two Taça de Portugal finals in 2008 between Porto and Sporting CP and in 2002 between Sporting CP and Leixões. Benquerença was assisted by João Santos of Porto and Luís Marcelino of Leiria, while the fourth official was Jorge Tavares of Aveiro.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Venue
The Portuguese Football Federation announced in June 2012, that the 2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira was to take place at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro in Aveiro. Académica's Estádio Cidade de Coimbra was also considered in contention to host the Supertaça but was not selected as a result of Académica qualifying for the competition. The Estádio Municipal de Aveiro hosted the Supertaça competition for a fourth consecutive year in a row after previously hosting the 2009, 2010 and the 2011 editions of the Supertaça. All of these four finals all consisted of Porto winning the competition.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Pre-match, Venue
The Estádio Municipal de Aveiro is the home stadium of Beira-Mar. It holds a capacity for 30,127 spectators. The stadium was built in 2003 and replaced the Estádio Mário Duarte which was Beira-Mar's home stadium from 1930 until 2003. The stadium was used for two games at UEFA Euro 2004.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Match, Team selection
Porto went into the 2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira with several players who were doubtful due to injury as well as players missing due to other commitments. In the weeks building up to the match, Porto had several players who were doubtful for the game but fully recuperated for the match. This was the case for Eliaquim Mangala and Marc Janko. Newly acquired forward Jackson Martínez was included in the squad after receiving international clearance for him to join Porto from Mexican team Chiapas. Porto's Alex Sandro, Danilo and Hulk missed the Supertaça due to being a part of the Brazilian national under-23 team who were participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Match, Team selection
Vítor Pereira's squad selection for the match saw him leave out Argentine midfielder Juan Iturbe and centre forward Marc Janko despite being recovered from an injury. Pereira's selection also saw him leave out Álvaro Pereira, who was on the verge of signing for Inter Milan. Pereira's squad selection for the Supertaça saw him include two newly acquired players; Fabiano and Jackson Martínez. Porto's starting line-up would see Miguel Lopes and Eliaquim Mangala start the game in the full back positions after first-team regulars Alex Sandro and Danilo were unavailable for the game. The surprise choices in the starting line up saw Steven Defour start over João Moutinho and Christian Atsu start over Silvestre Varela.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Match, Team selection
Académica went into the 2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira with no injuries to any of its players. Pedro Emanuel selected a squad of 19 players for the Supertaça. His squad selection for the Supertaça saw him include ten newly acquired players: Afonso, Bruno China, Cleyton, Edinho, Henrique, John Ogu, Magique, Makelele, Rodrigo Galo and Salim Cissé. Of those ten, Afonso, Cleyton, Makelele, Galo and Cissé would start the game. Ogu and Magique were later used in the game as substitutes. The surprise choice in Pedro Emanuel's starting eleven saw first-team goalkeeper Romuald Peiser be replaced by Ricardo.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Match, Summary
Porto dominated possession early on and created several chances which tested Académica's defense. The first major chance of the game saw Miguel Lopes receive the ball inside the eighteen yard box and pass it to James Rodríguez who fired the ball into Ricardo's hands. Porto's dominance continued with Maicon's free kick being parried by Ricardo and on the follow up, Ricardo blocked Christian Atsu's shot. The first half would remain goalless. Porto entered into the second half dominating possession just like they did in the first half.


2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Match, Summary
The first major goal scoring chance of the second half saw Lucho González play the ball into Académica's penalty box where Jackson Martínez couldn't capitalize off Académica's defense frailties when he shot the ball over the bar. As the score remained goalless, Vítor Pereira brought on Djalma and João Moutinho. Pereira's substitutions were paying off, as Porto started to create more chances and provide more attacking threat. Porto's next major threat on goal saw Nicolás Otamendi's bicycle kick be saved by Ricardo from a resulting James Rodríguez corner kick. As the game drew closer to the end, it seemed that the Supertaça would be settled on overtime but in the ninetieth minute of the game, a right wing cross found Jackson Martínez in the box who headed the ball past Ricardo to grant Porto a nineteenth Supertaça.


2012 Suruga Bank Championship
The 2012 Suruga Bank Championship (Japanese: スルガ銀行チャンピオンシップ2012; Spanish: Copa Suruga Bank 2012) was the fifth edition of the Suruga Bank Championship, the club football match co-organized by the Japan Football Association, the football governing body of Japan, and CONMEBOL, the football governing body of South America, between the winners of the previous season's J.League Cup and Copa Sudamericana. It was contested by Japanese club Kashima Antlers, the 2011 J.League Cup champion, and Chilean club Universidad de Chile, the 2011 Copa Sudamericana champion.


2012 Suruga Bank Championship
Kashima Antlers won 7–6 in penalty shootout, after drawing 2–2 in the ninety minutes of play.


2012 Suruga Bank Championship, Rules
The Suruga Bank Championship is played over one match, hosted by the winner of the J.League Cup. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the winner is determined by a penalty shootout (no extra time is played). A maximum of seven substitutions may be made during the match.


2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season
The 2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season was Suwon Samsung Bluewings's seventeenth season in the K-League in South Korea. Suwon Samsung Bluewings is competing K-League and Korean FA Cup.


2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season, Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season, Current squad, Out on loan & military service
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season, Transfer, In
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 Suwon Samsung Bluewings season, Transfer, Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 Svenska Supercupen
Svenska Supercupen 2012, Swedish Super Cup 2012, was the 6th Svenska Supercupen, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Allsvenskan and Svenska Cupen competitions. The match was played at Olympia, Helsingborg, on 24 March 2012, and was contested by league winners Helsingborgs IF and runners-up AIK. AIK qualified for the cup as Allsvenskan runners-up since Helsingborg won both the league and Svenska Cupen in 2011. The match was Helsingborgs third appearance and AIKs second in Svenska Supercupen since its creation. Olympia hosted the final for the first time and the two clubs played against each other for the first time in the cup's history.


2012 Svenska Supercupen
The match was broadcast live on TV4 Sport, a channel belonging to the TV4 Group. FIFA listed Markus Strömbergsson from Gävle was the referee for the match for the third consecutive time. Helsingborg won the match 2–0 after two goals from Dutch midfielder Rachid Bouaouzan. This was Helsingborgs second consecutive title in the competition and fifth consecutive title in Swedish football.


2012 Svenska Supercupen (women)
Svenska Supercupen 2012, Swedish Super Cup 2012, was the 6th Svenska Supercupen for women, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Damallsvenskan and Svenska Cupen competitions. The match was played at Malmö IP, Malmö, on 25 March 2012, and was contested by league winners LdB FC Malmö and cup winners Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC. The match was Malmö's second consecutive appearance and Kopparbergs/Göteborg's first in Svenska Supercupen since its creation. Malmö won the match 2–1 and claimed their second consecutive title in the competition.


2012 Sweden Invitational
The 2012 Sweden Invitational was an association football tournament organized in Sweden. It was held 16–20 June 2012 and featured 3 teams: Japan, Sweden and the United States.


2012 Swedish Football Division 2
Statistics of Swedish football Division 2 for the 2012 season.


2012 Swedish Football Division 2, Player of the year awards
Ever since 2003 the online bookmaker Unibet have given out awards at the end of the season to the best players in Division 2. The recipients are decided by a jury of sportsjournalists, coaches and football experts. The names highlighted in green won the overall national award.


2012 Swedish Golf Tour
The 2012 Swedish Golf Tour, known as the Nordea Tour for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th season of the Swedish Golf Tour, a series of professional golf tournaments held in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.


2012 Swedish Golf Tour
The tournaments also featured on the 2012 Nordic Golf League (NGL).


2012 Swedish Golf Tour, Schedule
The season consisted of 13 events played between April and September.


2012 Swedish Golf Tour (women)
The 2012 Swedish Golf Tour, known as the Nordea Tour for sponsorship reasons, was the 27th season of the Swedish Golf Tour, a series of professional golf tournaments for women held in Sweden and Norway.


2012 Swedish Golf Tour (women)
A number of the tournaments also featured on the 2012 LET Access Series (LETAS).


2012 Swedish Golf Tour (women), Schedule
The season consisted of 10 tournaments played between May and September, where one event was held in Norway.


2012 Swedish Open
The 2012 Swedish Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts as part of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2012 ATP World Tour and as part of the International Series on the 2012 WTA Tour. It took place in Båstad, Sweden, from 7 July until 15 July 2012 for the Men's tournament and from July 14 through July 22, 2012 for the Women's tournament. It was also known as the 2012 SkiStar Swedish Open for the Men's and the 2012 Sony Swedish Open for the Women's for sponsorship reasons. It was the 65th edition for the men's and the 4th edition for the women's. David Ferrer and Polona Hercog won the singles titles.


2012 Swedish Open, ATP singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 Swedish Open, ATP doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2012 Swedish Open, WTA singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 Swedish Open, WTA doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2012 Swedish Open, Finals, Men's doubles
Robert Lindstedt /  Horia Tecău defeated  Alexander Peya /  Bruno Soares 6–3, 7–6(7–5)


2012 Swedish Open, Finals, Women's doubles
Catalina Castaño /  Mariana Duque Mariño defeated  Eva Hrdinová /  Mervana Jugić-Salkić, 4–6, 7–5, [10–5]


2012 Swedish Open – Men's Doubles
Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecău successfully defended their title by beating Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6–3, 7–6 in the final.


2012 Swedish Open – Men's Singles
Robin Söderling was the defending champion, but withdrew due to illness. David Ferrer won the title, defeating Nicolás Almagro 6–2, 6–2 in the final.


2012 Swedish Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The top four seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2012 Swedish Open – Women's Doubles
Lourdes Domínguez Lino and María José Martínez Sánchez were the defending champions but Martínez Sánchez did not participate on account of her getting married on July 14. Domínguez Lino played alongside Anabel Medina Garrigues, but they withdrew from the first round due to a thigh muscle strain from Domínguez Lino. Catalina Castaño and Mariana Duque Mariño won the final 4–6, 7–5, [10–5] against Eva Hrdinová and Mervana Jugić-Salkić.


2012 Swedish Open – Women's Singles
Polona Hercog successfully defended her title after defeating Mathilde Johansson in the final 0–6, 6–4, 7–5.


2012 Swindon Borough Council election
Elections to Swindon Borough Council were held on 3 May 2012, with every ward up for election after the implementation of boundary changes. The Conservatives were the largest party on the council going into the elections, and were looking to hold on to power, while Labour were aiming to oust the Conservatives and take control of the council. The election resulted in the Conservatives maintaining control of the council with a majority of one seat, while Labour made gains but not enough to win control.


2012 Swindon Borough Council election
Following this election, the Borough Council will be elected a third at a time. The candidates who finished third in their three-seat ward in 2012 will serve a two-year term before facing re-election in 2014. Those who finished second will face re-election in 2015, and those who finished first will serve until 2016. In the two-seat Chiseldon & Lawn Ward, the candidate who finished second will face re-election in 2014, and the first place candidate the following year, while the single councillor for Ridgeway Ward will sit until 2016.


2012 Swiss Cup Basel
The 2012 Swiss Cup Basel was held from October 4 to 7 at the Curlingzentrum Region Basel in Arlesheim, Switzerland as part of the 2012–13 World Curling Tour. The event was held in a triple-knockout format, and the purse for the event was CHF40,000, of which the winner, Oskar Eriksson, received CHF13,000. Eriksson defeated Sven Michel in the final with a score of 5–4.


2012 Swiss Figure Skating Championships
The 2012 Swiss Figure Skating Championships took place between 8 and 10 December 2011 at the ST.JAKOB.ARENA in Basel. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior level. The results were used to choose the Swiss teams to the 2012 World Championships and the 2012 European Championships.


2012 Swiss Indoors
The 2012 Swiss Indoors was a tennis tournament that was played on indoor hard courts. It was the 43rd edition of the event known that year as the Swiss Indoors, and was part of the 500 series of the 2012 ATP World Tour. It was held at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, from 22 October until 28 October 2012. Second-seeded Juan Martín del Potro won the singles title.


2012 Swiss Indoors, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 Swiss Indoors, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following teams received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2012 Swiss Indoors, Finals, Singles
Juan Martín del Potro  defeated  Roger Federer, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–3)


2012 Swiss Indoors, Finals, Doubles
Daniel Nestor /  Nenad Zimonjić defeated  Treat Conrad Huey /  Dominic Inglot, 7–5, 6–7(4–7), [10–5]


2012 Swiss Indoors – Doubles
Michaël Llodra and Nenad Zimonjić were the defending champions but decided not to participate together. Llodra was scheduled to play with Jérémy Chardy, but the pair withdrew before their first round match, while Zimonjić played alongside Daniel Nestor and successfully defended the title, defeating Treat Conrad Huey and Dominic Inglot 7–5, 6–7(4–7), [10–5] in the final.


2012 Swiss Indoors – Singles
Roger Federer was the defending champion, but lost to Juan Martín del Potro 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–3) in the final.


2012 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold
The 2012 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold in badminton was the second grand prix gold and grand prix tournament of the 2012 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix. The tournament was held in St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland from March 13 until March 18, 2012 and had a total purse of $125,000.


2012 Swiss referendums
Twelve national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2012. On 11 March voters across the country were asked five questions on employment leave, second houses, building society savings, the Fixed Book Price Agreement and gambling revenues. On 17 June there were three questions on healthcare, foreign policy and home buying. On 23 September there were three on a smoking ban, secure housing in old age and music lessons at school. A final referendum was held on 25 November on the Animal Diseases Act.


2012 Swiss referendums, Background
Swiss law says that any issue can be put to a referendum if it attains 100,000 signatures to do so. The rules further state that for a measure to be nationally adopted into the constitution it has to get a majority of both votes and the number cantons that support the issue.


2012 Swiss referendums, March referendums, Reactions
After the vote results were tallied and the results released, the SBA reacted to the rejection of the holiday measure saying that it was in realisation of "something which sounds nice at first, brings many disadvantages on closer look." However, though labour unions were disappointed with the result, the president of Travaile. Suisse, Martin Fluegel, said that he was still "proud to have raised the theme of overwork."


2012 Swiss referendums, June referendums
The three June referendums asked voters questions on healthcare, foreign policy and assistance with purchasing homes.


2012 Swiss referendums, September referendums
Three referendums were held on 23 September on a smoking ban, secure housing in old age, and music in schools.


2012 Swiss referendums, November referendum
The final referendum of the year was held on 25 November on the Swiss Animal Diseases Act, and was approved by 68% of voters.


2012 Sydney Motorsport Park 360
The 2012 Sydney Motorsport Park 360 was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars. It was the ninth event of the 2012 International V8 Supercars Championship. It was held on the weekend of 25–26 August at the Sydney Motorsport Park, in Eastern Creek, New South Wales.


2012 Sydney Motorsport Park 360
It was the first V8 Supercars event held at the circuit since 2008, when the circuit was known as Eastern Creek Raceway. The V8 Supercars used the traditional 3.93 km Gardner Circuit as opposed to the new 4.7 km Brabham Circuit. It was also the first of three events held in New South Wales and the last before the endurance races (the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600).


2012 Sydney Roosters season
The 2012 Sydney Roosters season was the 105th in the club's history. Coached by Brian Smith and captained by Braith Anasta, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2012 Telstra Premiership. The Roosters finished the regular season 13th (out of 16), failing to reach the finals for the second consecutive year.


2012 Sydney Roosters season, Pre-season, Results
The Sydney Roosters will play 2 Trial games in 2012. The first game will be against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the second against the Wests Tigers. In the Roosters' first trial game of the year they went up against the Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground which was attended by around 12,000 fans, the game ended with the Roosters winning 28–16. In the second trial match they went up against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium which was attended by 7,426 fans, The game ended with the roosters rallying from behind to win 28–24.


2012 Sydney Roosters season, Regular season, Results
These are the results and fixtures of the Sydney Roosters 2012 Season. They started their 2012 season well against their longtime rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with a comeback with the clock showing two and a half minutes.


2012 Sydney Telstra 500
The 2012 Sydney Telstra 500 was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars racing cars. It was the fifteenth and final event of the 2012 International V8 Supercars Championship. It was held on the weekend of 30 November–2 December at the Homebush Street Circuit in Sydney, New South Wales.


2012 Sydney Telstra 500
Craig Lowndes became the first driver to win two races at the circuit, winning on Saturday after first-time pole-sitter Tim Slade made a mistake late in the race. Will Davison gave Ford Performance Racing a strong finish to the year, winning the second race. James Courtney found form, finishing on the podium in both races. Series champion Jamie Whincup finished fifth in both races.


2012 Sydney Telstra 500
There was some controversy when Whincup pulled over in the pit lane in the first race to let team-mate Lowndes past, in order to boost Lowndes' chances of finishing second in the championship, but no penalty was applied. Mark Winterbottom was beaten to second in the points standings by Lowndes after a disappointing weekend. The 2012 Dunlop Series champion Scott McLaughlin made his solo debut for Garry Rogers Motorsport (after having driven with Jonathon Webb at the endurance races), replacing Alex Prémat for the second race after Prémat suffered heat exhaustion on Saturday and was deemed unfit to race.


2012 Sydney Telstra 500
The event was also the final one for the Project Blueprint specification V8 Supercars, with the new Car of the Future regulations coming into effect in 2013.


2012 Sydney state by-election
A by-election for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Sydney was held on Saturday 27 October 2012. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of independent MP Clover Moore due to the legislation preventing dual membership of state parliament and local council.


2012 Sydney state by-election
Following the 2012 local government elections in which Moore was re-elected for a third term as Lord Mayor of Sydney, Moore resigned from NSW Parliament. Laws passed through NSW Parliament in 2012 ceased dual state parliament and local council representation.


2012 Sydney state by-election
Alex Greenwich, an independent candidate backed by Moore easily won the seat.


2012 Sydney state by-election, Background
Moore was first elected to the marginal seat of Bligh at the 1988 election. Her largest primary vote was 43.7 percent in 1991, while her largest two-candidate preferred vote was 64.7 percent in 2003. The seat was replaced by Sydney at the 2007 election, where Moore retained the seat with a primary vote of 39.6 percent (+7.2) and a two-candidate preferred vote of 66.6 percent (+1.6) against Labor.


2012 Sydney state by-election, Background
At the 2011 election, Moore retained the seat with a primary vote of 36.3 percent and a two-candidate vote of 53.1 percent against the Liberals with a primary vote of 36.2 percent (+14.6), the Greens on 12.8 percent (−2.8), and Labor on 11.3 percent (−8.7). In two-party preferred terms, the seat had a Liberal vote of 65.5 percent (+22.4) against Labor.


2012 Sydney state by-election, Background
There was a 16.3 percent two-party preferred swing away from the Coalition government at the 2011 Clarence by-election. The Coalition did not contest the 2012 Heffron by-election which Labor retained with an increased margin. Labor strategically chose not to contest the Sydney by-election.


2012 Sydney state by-election, Candidates
The five candidates in ballot paper order were as follows:


2012 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 2012 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 68th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.


2012 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
As with previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 2012 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2012), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.


2012 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Line honors were claimed by Wild Oats XI, who broke their own race record, to finish in 1 day, 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds. They defeated their nearest challenger, Ragamuffin Loyal, by around 5 hours


2012 Sylvania 300
The 2012 Sylvania 300 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on September 23, 2012 at  New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Contested over 300 laps, it was the twenty-eighth in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as the second race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which ends the season. Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, his fifth of the season. Jimmie Johnson finished second and Jeff Gordon was third.


2012 Symetra Tour
The 2012 Symetra Tour was a series of professional women's golf tournaments held from March through September 2012 in the United States. The Symetra Tour is the second-tier women's professional golf tour in the United States and is the "official developmental tour" of the LPGA Tour. It was previously known as the Futures Tour. In 2012, total prize money on the Symetra Tour was $1,755,000.


2012 Symetra Tour, Leading money winners
The top ten money winners at the end of the season gained fully exempt cards on the LPGA Tour for the 2013 season. In previous years, only the top five players received fully exempt cards while the next five receiving partial status.


2012 Symetra Tour, Schedule and results
The number in parentheses after winners' names show the player's total number of official money, individual event wins on the Symetra Tour including that event.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team
The 2012 Syracuse Orange football team represented Syracuse University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange were led by fourth year head coach Doug Marrone and played their home games at the Carrier Dome. The season marked their last as members of the Big East Conference, as they joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013. They finished the season 8–5, 5–2 in Big East play to claim a four-way share of the Big East Conference championship.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team
They were invited to the Pinstripe Bowl where they defeated long-time rival West Virginia, whom they did not play in the regular season due to the Mountaineers' move to the Big 12 Conference. The 2012 season also proved to be the final one for Marrone as the Orange head coach, as he was hired as the new head coach of the NFL's Buffalo Bills shortly after the end of the season.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Preseason
The Orange finished the 2011 season with a 5–7 record, going 1–6 in Big East play to finish in a tie for seventh place. The 2012 recruiting class added 21 new players to the roster, including 13 three-star players. Rivals.com ranked the 2012 Syracuse recruiting class at number 65 in the nation.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Preseason
On offense, the Orange are returning senior quarterback Ryan Nassib, starting for his third consecutive season. Key offensive players such as Alec Lemon, Marcus Sales, Jerome Smith, and Prince-Tyson Gulley are also returning. On defense, key players returning include Shamarko Thomas, Marquis Spruill, and Deon Goggins. The program lost a number of significant contributors in the 2011 campaign, including tight end Nick Provo and defensive end Chandler Jones, and such losses left a number of questions regarding how a relatively young defense would be able to mature without many experienced players.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Preseason
In its preseason rankings, College Football News ranked the Orange 57th in the country, and projected that they would go 6–6 in 2012. Their 2012 schedule is the 42nd-toughest in the nation, according to rankings compiled by statistician Jeff Sagarin.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Preseason, Big East media poll
The 2012 Big East Preseason Poll was announced at the Big East Media Day in Newport, RI on July 31, 2012. Syracuse was chosen to finish seventh in the conference.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
Northwestern defeated Syracuse in the Orange's home opener by a score of 42–41. Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for 482 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Marcus Sales caught twelve passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. After trailing 35–13 halfway through the 3rd quarter, the Orange stormed back to take a 41–35 lead with less than three minutes left in the game. The defense would not hold, however, as Northwestern scored the go-ahead touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
1st quarter scoring: SYR: Ross Krautman 22 Yd FG; SYR: Ross Krautman 33 Yd FG; NU: Mark Venric 82 Yd Punt Return


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 14 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); NU: Mark Venric 21 Yd Pass From Kain Colter (Jeff Budzien Kick); NU: Christian Jones 14 Yd Pass From Kain Colter (Jeff Budzien Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
3rd quarter scoring: NU: Chi Chi Ariguzo 33 Yd Fumble Recovery (Jeff Budzien Kick); NU: Kain Colter 1 Yd Run (Jeff Budzien Kick); SYR: Marcus Sales 7 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Jeremiah Kobena 50 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Jeremiah Kobena 7 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Christopher Clark 20 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Prince-Tyson Gulley Two-Point Run Conversion); NU: Demitrius Fields 9 Yd Pass From Trevor Siemian (Jeff Budzien Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, USC
This game was played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ryan Nassib threw for 322 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Marcus Sales caught eight passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The Orange looked poised to upset the Trojans, trailing by only five points at the end of the third quarter. A dominating 4th quarter performance by USC quarterback Matt Barkley proved to be too much, however, as the Trojans dealt Syracuse their second loss with a final score of 42–29.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, USC
2nd quarter scoring: USC: Marqise Lee 13 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); USC – Robert Woods 29 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); SYR – Ross Krautman 37 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, USC
3rd quarter scoring: USC – Robert Woods 4 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); SYR – Marcus Sales 3 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR – Prince-Tyson Gulley 8 Yd Run (Two-Point Conversion Failed)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, USC
4th quarter scoring: USC: Xavier Grimble 22 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); USC – Marqise Lee 4 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); SYR – Marcus Sales 17 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Two-Point Conversion Failed); USC – Marqise Lee 3 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Alex Wood Kick); SYR – Ryan Nassib 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Stony Brook
The Orange returned to the Carrier Dome to take on FCS Stony Brook. After trailing by three at the half, the Orange defense held the Seawolves to a scoreless second half, and the offense did the rest at Syracuse won its first game, 28–17. Ryan Nassib threw for 335 yards with three touchdowns.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Stony Brook
1st quarter scoring: SB: Kevin Norrell 63 Yd Pass From Kyle Essington (Wesley Skiffington Kick); SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 61 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SB: Wesley Skiffington 20 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Stony Brook
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Ashton Broyld 22 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SB: Miguel Maysonet 71 Yd Run (Wesley Skiffington Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Stony Brook
3rd quarter scoring: SYR: Jarrod West 13 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Stony Brook
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Marcus Sales 19 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
The Orange traveled to Minnesota and were stifled by the Golden Gopher defense. Ryan Nassib threw for 228 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. This loss gave Syracuse a 1–3 overall record for the season.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
1st quarter scoring: MIN: Donnell Kirkwood 2 Yd Run (Jordan Wettstein Kick); SYR: Ross Krautman 33 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
3rd quarter scoring: MIN: Donnell Kirkwood 1 Yd Run (Jordan Wettstein Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
4th quarter scoring: MIN: Jordan Wettstein 43 Yd FG; SYR: Marcus Sales 14 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Big East Conference play began as Pittsburgh came to the Carrier Dome. After scoring fourteen points in the first quarter, the Orange were held scoreless by the Pitt defense. Despite scoring only twice, Syracuse held on to edge the Panthers by a score of 14–13. This victory snapped an eight-game FBS losing streak, and was the Orange's first win over Pitt since a double-overtime affair in 2004.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
1st quarter scoring: SYR: Adonis Ameen-Moore 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Dyshawn Davis 52 Yd Fumble Return (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
2nd quarter scoring: PIT: Ray Graham 1 Yd Run (Kevin Harper Kick); PIT: Kevin Harper 40 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
Despite putting up 438 total yards, turnovers proved costly as Rutgers beat Syracuse for the second year in a row by a score of 23–15. Ryan Nassib threw for 356 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
1st quarter scoring: RUT: Jawan Jamison 1 Yd Run (Nick Borgese Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Adonis Ameen-Moore 3 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
3rd quarter scoring: RUT: Duron Harmon 75 Yd Return Of Blocked Field Goal (Nick Borgese Kick); RUT: Nick Borgese 25 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Christopher Clark 40 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ryan Nassib Pass To Marcus Sales For Two-Point Conversion)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Connecticut
The Connecticut Huskies took on the Orange in former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni's first return to the Carrier Dome since he was fired at the end of 2004 season. The Orange blew out the Huskies by a score of 40–10 behind Ryan Nassib's 251 passing yards and running back Jerome Smith's 133 yards on the ground.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Connecticut
1st quarter scoring: SYR: Ross Krautman 22 Yd FG; SYR: Ross Krautman 33 Yd FG; CON: Chad Christen 23 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Connecticut
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Adonis Ameen-Moore 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); CON: Ryan Griffin 32 Yd Pass From Chandler Whitmer (Chad Christen Kick); SYR: Beckett Wales 3 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Connecticut
3rd quarter scoring: SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 4 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Ross Krautman 42 Yd FG; SYR: Alec Lemon 11 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, South Florida
After trailing by a score of 23–3 at halftime, the Orange rallied in the second half and won on a last-second touchdown pass by Ryan Nassib, who threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, South Florida
1st quarter scoring: SFL: Demetris Murray 1 Yd Run (Maikon Bonani Kick); SYR: Ross Krautman 20 Yd FG; SFL: Maikon Bonani 35 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, South Florida
2nd quarter scoring: SFL: Maikon Bonani 32 Yd FG; SFL: Lindsey Lamar 80 Yd Run (Maikon Bonani Kick); SFL: Maikon Bonani 46 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, South Florida
3rd quarter scoring: SYR: Jarrod West 31 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Alec Lemon 4 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Marcus Sales 5 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SFL: Maikon Bonani 41 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, South Florida
4th quarter scoring: SFL: Andre Davis 30 Yd Pass From B.J. Daniels (Maikon Bonani Kick); SYR: Marcus Sales 19 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SFL: Maikon Bonani 47 Yd; SYR: Alec Lemon 1 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
Looking to go above .500 for the first time all season, the Orange entered Cincinnati and lost a sloppy contest that featured five total turnovers. Despite doubling the Bearcats' total yardage and 286 passing yards from Ryan Nassib, Syracuse fell to 4–5 on the season.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
1st quarter scoring CIN: George Winn 5 Yd Run (Tony Miliano Kick); SYR: Ryan Nassib 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Ross Krautman 24 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
2nd quarter scoring CIN: Travis Kelce 37 Yd Pass From George Winn (Tony Miliano Kick); SYR: Alec Lemon 14 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
3rd quarter scoring CIN: George Winn 1 Yd Run (Tony Miliano Kick); SYR: Jerome Smith 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); CIN: Travis Kelce 13 Yd Pass From Brendon Kay (Tony Miliano Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
4th quarter scoring: CIN: George Winn 2 Yd Run (Tony Miliano Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Louisville
Homecoming was good for the Orange as they romped to hand #9 Louisville their first loss of the season. Behind a dominating offensive performance from quarterback Ryan Nassib and running back Jerome Smith, Syracuse put up 524 total yards as they won by a score of 45–26.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Louisville
1st quarter scoring: SYR: Ross Krautman 20 Yd FG; LOU: John Wallace 37 Yd FG; SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 8 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); LOU: Corvin Lamb 53 Yd Pass From Teddy Bridgewater (John Wallace Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Louisville
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Alec Lemon 13 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Alec Lemon 37 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 55 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); LOU: John Wallace 35 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Louisville
3rd quarter scoring: SYR: Jerome Smith 35 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick; LOU: Eli Rogers 44 Yd Pass From Teddy Bridgewater (PAT Blocked)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Louisville
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Lewellyn Coker 3 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); LOU: DeVante Parker 8 Yd Pass From Teddy Bridgewater (John Wallace Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Needing one more win to become bowl eligible, the Orange went to Missouri and escaped with a comeback win reminiscent of the game against South Florida a few weeks earlier. Ryan Nassib threw for 385 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and running backs Prince-Tyson Gulley and Jerome Smith combined for 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns. With their 31–27 win, the Orange became bowl eligible with a 6–5 record.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Missouri
1st quarter scoring: MIS: Dorial Green-Beckham 70 Yd Pass From James Franklin (Andrew Baggett Kick); SYR: Ross Krautman 44 Yd FG; MIS: Jimmie Hunt 30 Yd Pass From James Franklin (Andrew Baggett Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Missouri
2nd quarter scoring: MIS: Andrew Baggett 20 Yd FG; SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Missouri
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Alec Lemon 13 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); MIS: Kendial Lawrence 3 Yd Run (Andrew Baggett Kick); SYR: Jerome Smith 8 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); MIS: Andrew Baggett 46 Yd FG; SYR: Alec Lemon 17 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Temple
Looking to extend their winning streak to three games and improve their overall record, the Orange went to Temple and beat the Owls by a score of 38–20. The win brought the Orange's record to 7–5, with a Big East record of 5–2. This game was their last conference game as members of the Big East Conference, and gave the Orange an overall record of 76–75 in the conference.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Temple
1st quarter scoring: TEM: Brandon McManus 47 Yd FG; TEM: John Christopher 12 Yd Pass From Clinton Granger (Brandon Mcmanus Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Temple
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Marcus Sales 24 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Adonis Ameen-Moore 18 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); TEM: Brandon McManus 22 Yd FG; SYR: Ross Krautman 26 Yd FG


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Temple
3rd quarter scoring: TEM: Clinton Granger 10 Yd Run (Brandon McManus Kick); SYR: Adonis Ameen-Moore 1 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, Temple
4th quarter scoring: SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 3 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Keon Lyn 31 Yd Interception Return (Ross Krautman Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, West Virginia (Pinstripe Bowl)
After finishing the season at 7–5 and claiming a share of the Big East Conference title, the Orange were invited to play in the Pinstripe Bowl against former Big East rival West Virginia, who were finishing their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Syracuse entered the game riding a two-game winning streak over the Mountaineers, including a 49–23 blowout the previous season. West Virginia entered the game after having been ranked as high as #5 in the nation, but a five-game losing streak dashed any national championship hopes they might have had.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, West Virginia (Pinstripe Bowl)
At halftime, the score stood 12–7 in favor of the Orange, who came out of the locker room hot and won by a final score of 38–14. Syracuse put up 511 total yards, and their defense held the vaunted Mountaineer offense to just 285 yards, with two safeties. The Orange finished their season with an 8–5 record, winning six of their last seven games.


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, West Virginia (Pinstripe Bowl)
2nd quarter scoring: SYR: Team Safety; SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 33 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); WVU: Stedman Bailey 32 Yd Pass From Geno Smith (Tyler Bitancurt Kick)


2012 Syracuse Orange football team, Game summaries, West Virginia (Pinstripe Bowl)
3rd quarter scoring: SYR: Beckett Wales 10 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 67 Yd Run (Ross Krautman Kick); WVU: Stedman Bailey 29 Yd Pass From Geno Smith (Tyler Bitancurt Kick); SYR: Prince-Tyson Gulley 10 Yd Pass From Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman Kick); SYR: Team Safety


2012 Syrian Cup
The 2012 version of the Syrian Cup is the 42nd edition to be played. It is the premier knockout tournament for football teams in Syria. Al-Ittihad is the holders.


2012 Syrian Cup, Semifinals
Al-Wahda was declared as the cup winner after the other three semifinalists, Al-Ittihad, Al-Jazeera and Al-Shorta all withdrew.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Syria on 26 February 2012. In response to the Syrian Civil War, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a new constitution to be drafted. The referendum was not monitored by foreign observers.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Background
The new constitution would set a limit of two seven-year terms for future presidents and also removed Article 8 of the constitution of Syria, which stated that "the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party leads the state and society."


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Political parties
The new constitution removes the de jure Ba'ath Party monopoly over the political life of Syria. The text also prohibits the formation of political parties on an ethnic, religious, regional or tribal basis. However, any planned political party must get the government's permission and approval before it is to be formed.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Presidency
According to the new constitution, presidential elections are held every seven years. They are intended to be contested by several candidates, unlike the old form of election in which a single candidate was approved or rejected.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Presidency
The conditions required to be candidate at the presidential election are the following:


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Economy
Syria will no longer be a planned socialist economy but will focus on the principle of developing public and private economy in order to boost the national income and to develop the production to create jobs and raise the standard of living. The constitution states that development is the goal of all economics of policy and that consumers and producers are protected. Private property is protected and can only be confiscated for necessities of war and disasters and only for a fair compensation.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Religion and culture
The new constitution says that the state respects and protects all religions, but reaffirms that Islamic jurisprudence is a major source of inspiration, like in the old constitution. The new constitution states that scientific research is supported by the state and the freedom of scientific research, artistic creation, literature and cultural creativity are protected.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Issues, Rights and freedom
The new constitution forbids any discrimination on the grounds of sex, origin, religion or language. National unity, integrity and military service are considered a "sacred duty" while freedom is considered a sacred right.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Campaign
In the weeks leading up to the referendum, public television hosted discussions about the new constitution and informed citizens how to vote.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Campaign
The main foreign-based opposition group, the SNC, opposed the proposed constitution and called for a boycott. The Syrian opposition in exile described the new constitution as fraudulent and the referendum as a farce. It pointed out that the Syrian government had never respected the old constitution, which enshrines freedom of speech and peaceful demonstrations and bans torture.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Conduct
Due to the ongoing fighting in Syria, questions were raised over the organization of the vote in the cities of Homs, Hama, Daraa and in the northern province of Idlib, which are areas held by the rebellion. Voters present in these areas were not able to take part in the referendum unless they traveled to government-held areas.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Conduct
14.6 million Syrians were eligible to vote, in 14,185 polling stations which were open from 7:00-19:00. Multiple polling stations were set up in each district and neighborhood of central Damascus.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Conduct
At midday, the interior ministry announced that the referendum was going smoothly in most of the provinces. The interior minister, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, announced that the turnout was "high except in some areas despite threats and intimidation from armed groups." He called the participation in central Damascus "remarkable."


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Conduct
Canadian-based Global News reported that the turnout was high in pro-Assad neighbourhoods or areas with a high security presence, but made note that areas which have held anti-government protests had a very low turnout. They also suggested that though a portion of the voters were opposed to the government, there was also a belief that the referendum would be "a step in the right direction." It also suggested that in pro-government neighbourhood there was pressure to vote and pressure to boycott the vote in anti-government neighbourhoods.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Conduct
President Bashar al-Assad voted with his wife Asma at a voting centre located at the headquarters of the national television where he was cheered by their employees. A crowd of Assad supporters in Damascus showed their support for the referendum.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Results
With a voter turnout of 57.4% and 89.4% voting in favour, the new constitution was adopted. President Al-Assad signed the new constitution into force on 27 February 2012.


2012 Syrian constitutional referendum, Results, International reactions
Russia - A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement welcomed the referendum outcome, saying that the referendum had shown popular support of the government’s reform programme and denied legitimacy to the Syrian opposition, which tried but failed to persuade the people to boycott the vote. Russia also urged the Syrian sides to renounce violence and enter into a dialogue without preconditions.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Syria on 7 May 2012 to elect the members of the Syrian People's Council. The elections followed the approval of a new constitution in a referendum on 26 February 2012.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Background
The elections were postponed from May 2011 to February 2012 and then again, due to the civil war and the referendum on a new constitution. The 250-seat parliament's term expired March 2011 but it was extended in accordance with the country's new constitution. Only a few days before the date announced, peace envoy Kofi Annan said he was awaiting a response from the Syrian leader on "concrete proposals". He had submitted these to him in two rounds of talks in Damascus at the weekend prior to the announcement on the election. On 13 March, President Assad signed decree №113 setting the election on 7 May 2012. The date of polls was announced on the day when Syrian pro-government forces launched a fresh assault on rebel strongholds in the country’s northwest.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Regulation
The 7 May election was the first to follow the constitution's new outline for political plurality, revoking a clause put in place by Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled for nearly 30 years until his death in 2000. The clause stated that Assad's ruling Baath Party was "leader of state and society". Under the new constitution, parties cannot be founded on a religious, tribal, regional, denominational, or profession-related basis or be a branch of or affiliated to a non-Syrian party or political organisation. This would exclude the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood or Kurdish parties seeking regional autonomy.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Regulation
Also, at least half of the members of the assembly should be workers and farmers, as defined by law. In July 2011, the Syrian cabinet endorsed the general elections bill as part of the government's reform program to end months of unrest. The bill stipulates the formation of the Supreme Commission for Elections to manage the election process. Nine newly licensed parties have been formed to challenge the front dominated by the Baath Party, which has ruled since 1972. The elections were conducted through identity card according to the decree No.125 from 2011.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Campaign
By early May 2012, main streets in Damascus were covered with candidates' posters and banners draped over squares. The Financial Times claimed that "the rapid emergence of so many willing prospective MPs from a repressive dictatorship with no history of political activism is just one of many clumsy signs that the vote is orchestrated by the regime to entrench its power". However most of the parties which had candidates elected - the two Communist parties, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Arab Socialist Union and the Social Unionists (see below) - are well established, and have participated in previous parliamentary elections.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Campaign
The largest opposition group participating in the election was the Popular Front for Change and Liberation, which had 45 candidates, including six in Damascus Governorate, headed by their leader, Qadri Jamil. The Popular Front brought together Jamil's unlicensed People’s Will Party with the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which was a tolerated party under the National Progressive Front led by Assad's Ba'ath Party.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Organisation process
Due to the ongoing fighting in Syria, questions were raised over the organization of the vote as in the cities of Homs, Hama, Daraa and in the northern province of Idlib are in ongoing war between the rebels and the pro-government forces. On the day of the announcement of the election, Melhem al-Droubi, a member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the Syrian National Council told Reuters: "Of course we will boycott the elections because they will be fixed. But this is not a main focus for us. What we want is real change with a real presidential election, which Assad would surely lose". However, the government said that this multi-party election was a historic step for comprehensive reform.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Organisation process
On 26 March 2012, SANA, the state-owned news agency reported the parliament asked President Bashar Al-Assad to consider delaying the election so that the comprehensive reforms are consolidated, waiting for the outcome of the comprehensive national dialogue and empowering the licensed parties in light of the new parties law. Louay Hussein, who was jailed for seven years under Hafez al-Assad, Mr Assad’s father and predecessor, said he would boycott the election claiming the government was using the poll as a way to preempt and avoid "possible future negotiations with the opposition forces".


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Organisation process
On 3 May 2012, Assistant Interior Minister for Civil Affairs Brigadier General Hassan Jalali said that the Ministry had completed all preparations for the elections. In a statement to SANA, he added that the ministry handed the governors the poll boxes, invisible ink and curtains for invisible rooms and other equipment to distribute them on the 12,152 election centers throughout the country.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Organisation process
While independents and members of licensed political parties declared their candidates some time before the election date, the pro-government Ba'ath party and its partners in the National Progressive Front did not do so until 1 May 2012.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Conduct
Polls opened at 7:00 as Syrian state television showed voters lining up and dropping white ballots in large, plastic boxes. Up to 14.8 million voters were eligible to choose 250 legislators from 7,195 candidates, including 710 women from 12 different political parties, including seven newly formed political parties


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Conduct
It was unclear how extensive voting was throughout the country, especially in opposition area and places that were hard hit by government forces or witnessed clashes between troops and rebels. Activists said many towns observed general strikes and posted videos of blocks along main streets with all shops closed.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Conduct
The main opposition group that participated, the Popular Front for Change and Liberation, said that there had been "numerous violations" in the election including the banning of candidates' representatives from supervising the elections.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Conduct
Voting had to be re-conducted at several voting centres across the country due to unspecified election law violations. This caused a delay in the announcement of the election results.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Results
Of 10.118 million people eligible to cast their votes, 5.186 million participated, yielding a voter turnout of 51.26 percent.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Results
With 30 of the 710 contesting women winning seats in the election, the number of women in parliament remained the same as during the previous period.


2012 Syrian parliamentary election, Aftermath
On 25 May 2012 the parliament has held its first session in which members were sworn-in, and Mohammad Jihad al-Laham was elected as Speaker.


2012 São Léo Open
The 2012 São Léo Open was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the second edition of the tournament which was part of the 2012 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in São Leopoldo, Brazil between 5 and 11 November 2012.


2012 São Léo Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 São Léo Open – Doubles
Franco Ferreiro and Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo were the defending champions but decided not to participate. Fabiano de Paula and Júlio Silva defeated Ariel Behar and Horacio Zeballos 6–1, 7–6(7–5) in the final.


2012 São Léo Open – Singles
Leonardo Mayer was the defending champion but decided not to participate. Horacio Zeballos defeated Paul Capdeville 3–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–2) in the final.


2012 São Paulo FC season
The 2012 season was São Paulo's 83rd year since the club's existence. After finishing the national league in sixth position in previous season, the team was not able to take part on Copa Libertadores for the second year consecutive thus participating in national cup, Copa do Brasil. In Campeonato Paulista, the team reached semifinals for a straight third year losing to Santos in their own field, the rival was consecrated champion in all these years.


2012 São Paulo FC season
In the Copa do Brasil, Tricolor was also defeated in the same stage, this time for Cortiba, after lose the second match by 2–0, remaining an aggregate score of 2–1 to opponent. However the second half of season bring great results for The Dearest, finishing 4th position in league and an international title of Copa Sudamericana in the end of year. The Tricolor won the trophy for the first time against Argentine club Tigre in a troubled match that opponent refused to play the second half of final match in Morumbi. São Paulo was winning by 2–0, goals by Lucas at 22' and Osvaldo at 28' when referee whistled the final of match without return of Argentines to field, was the 12th international official title in Tricolor's history.


2012 São Paulo FC season, Players, Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 São Paulo FC season, Players, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 São Paulo FC season, Players, Transfers, In
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 São Paulo FC season, Players, Transfers, Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2012 São Paulo FC season, Statistics, Appearances and goals
1Ademilson became nº 11 during the season. Before he was nº 29


2012 São Paulo FC season, Statistics, Disciplinary record
Last updated: 12 December 2012Source: Competitive matches and Ordered by ,  and  = Number of bookings;  = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.


2012 São Paulo Indy 300
The "Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestlé" was the fourth race of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The race took place on April 29, 2012, on the 2.536-mile (4.081 km) temporary street circuit in São Paulo, Brazil, and was telecasted by the NBC Sports Network in the United States and TV Bandeirantes in Brazil.


2012 São Paulo Indy 300, Classification, Race results
Points include 1 point for pole position and 2 points for most laps led.


2012 São Paulo mayoral election
The 2012 São Paulo municipal election took place in the city of São Paulo, with the first round taking place on 7 October 2012 and the second round taking place on 28 October 2012. Voters voted to elect the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and 55 city councillors for the administration of the city. The result was a 2nd round victory for Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party (PT), winning 3,387,720 votes and a share of 55.57% of the popular vote, defeating José Serra of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), who took 2,708,768 votes and a share of 44.43% of the popular vote.


2012 São Tomé First Division
The 2012 São Tomé (Island or Regional) First Division took place that season. The club was reduced to 10 clubs and appeared in that number until late 2015, the competition began in May and finished in October. Geographically all clubs that took part in the Premier Division were in the east and those in the west were relegated last season. In the first week, Sporting Praia Cruz won the first two matches, two match draws were made in around week 15.


2012 São Tomé First Division
Sporting Praia Cruz won the title and went on to participate in the national championship match for the sixth time in November. A total of 90 matches were played, and 263 goals were scored. Sporting Praia Cruz  won the season's title after finishing with 48 points and participated in the 2012 National Championship later in the year.


2012 São Tomé First Division, Overview
Agrosport of Group A and Aliança Nacional of Group B were promoted into the Premier Division from the Second.


2012 São Tomé First Division, Overview
For just a season, Agrosport was relegated as they were placed 9th, also relegated was last placed 6 de Setembro, the two clubs participated in the regional Second Division in the following season. Agrosport did not return to the Premier Division until 2016 and 6 de Setembro will be returning to the Premier Division in 2018.


2012 São Tomé First Division, Overview
Sporting Praia Cruz scored the most goals numbering 40, second was Bairros Unidos with 31, 3rd was UDRA with 28 and fourth was 8th placed Aliança Nacional with 26. UDESCAI scored the least with 13, the second least was Vitória Riboque with 23 and third least were Cruz Vermelha and Oque del Rei with 24.. On the opposites, both Agrosport and 6 de Setembro conceded the most with 39, followed by Oque del Rei with 31 and UDRA with 26,  Sporting Praia conceded the least with 12, second was Vitória Riboque with 18.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship
The 2012 São Tomé and Principe Championship was the 27th season of the São Tomé and Principe Championship the top-level football championship of São Tomé and Principe. It began on 1 May and concluded on 5 November. Sporting Clube do Principe from São Tomé island won their second title.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, Teams
15 teams participated in the São Tomé and Principe Championship, 10 from São Tomé Island and 5 from Príncipe Island. At the end of season champion of São Tomé Island League and champion of Principe Island League play one match for champion of São Tomé and Principe.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, São Tomé teams 2012, First Division, Second Division
The Second Division featured two zones (sometimes as groups), A & B. The first place of each zone heads to the Second Division championships and the winner was crowned Second Division Champions, all of its finals participants qualified into the Premier Division in the following season including Futebol Club Aliança Nacional (Zone A) and Agrosport (Zone B).


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, São Tomé teams 2012, First Division, Third Division
It was the first season that featured the Third Division.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, Principe teams 2012
Five clubs took part, FC Porto Real did not participated during the season which reduced the number of matches to eight. The competition started in May and finished in October. Sporting won the 2012 title and participated in the national championship match in November. Sporting defeated UDAPB 1–0 in the final match of the season.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, National final
The national final match took place on November 5, 2012 at noon. The match featured Sporting from Príncipe and Sporting Praia Cruz, it was the "Sporting" challenge. Every goal were scored in the last few minutes of the match.


2012 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship, National final
The first were scored by Remi Lima at the 86th minute, the second was a penalty kick which was scored by Sporting Praia's Jair which tied up the game, at additional time, Remy Lima scored the last two goals and Sporting Príncipe went on to win their second in a row and most recent national title and qualified into the 2013 CAF Champions League.


2012 TAC Cup season
The 2012 TAC Cup season was the 21st season of the TAC Cup competition. Oakleigh Chargers have won there 2nd premiership title after defeating Gippsland Power in the grand final by a 1-point thriller.


2012 TBL Playoffs
2012 TBL Playoffs was the final phase of the 2011-12 Turkish Basketball League. The playoffs started on 5 April 2012. Anadolu Efes were the defending champions.


2012 TBL Playoffs
The eight highest placed teams of the regular season qualified for the playoffs. In the quarter-finals a best-of-three was played, in the semi-finals a best-of-five and in the finals a best-of-seven playoff format was used.


2012 TBL Playoffs
Beşiktaş Milangaz competed against Anadolu Efes in the finals, won the series 4-2 and got their 2nd championship.


2012 TC4
2012 TC4 is a tumbling micro-asteroid classified as a bright near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 10 meters (30 feet) in diameter. It was first observed by Pan-STARRS at Haleakala Observatory on the Hawaiian island of Maui, in the United States. As of 1 October 2017, it had a small Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.000149 AU (22,300 km). On 12 October 2017, it passed Earth at 0.00033524 AU (50,151 km).


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2012 Earth encounter
2012 TC4 was discovered on 4 October 2012 at apparent i-band magnitude 20.1 while the asteroid was 0.03 AU (4,500,000 km; 2,800,000 mi) from Earth. It came within 0.000634 AU (0.247 LD, 94,800 km, 58,900 mi) from Earth on 12 October 2012.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2012 Earth encounter
During the 2012 close approach, the asteroid only had an observation arc of 7 days, between 4 and 11 October 2012, so the exact distance of the 2017 closest approach was poorly constrained. With the 7 day observation arc, the asteroid had a 3-sigma chance of passing between 0.00008818 and 0.002896 AU (0.034 to 1.127 LD, 13,200–433,200 km, 8,200–269,200 mi) from Earth on 12 October 2017. Astronomers were certain that it would not pass closer than 6,800 km from the surface of Earth, ruling out any possibility that it could hit the Earth in 2017.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
On 12 October 2017 at 5:42 UT, the asteroid passed 0.00033524 AU (50,151 km; 31,163 mi) from Earth. Observations between July and October reduced the uncertainty region from several hundred thousand kilometers to about ±140 meters. The asteroid was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 16 October 2017 using JPL solution #56. Prior to the encounter, it was rated −4.11 on the Palermo scale, with a 1 in 1,000 chance of impact over the next hundred years.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
Paul Chodas of NASA's Center for near-Earth Object Studies, and Vishnu Reddy of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, viewed the 2017 flyby (inside of the orbit of the Moon) as a way to test and refine the global asteroid detection and tracking network designed to give warning of objects heading toward Earth. Reddy coordinated the effort, involving over a dozen institutions worldwide.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
In addition to the observation campaign, NASA used this exercise to test communications between the many observers and also to test internal U.S. government messaging and communications up through the executive branch and across government agencies, as it would during an actual predicted impact emergency. Results of the campaign were published on 3 November 2017.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
The asteroid remained too faint to be recovered with automated astronomical surveys until early September, but a more targeted observation with the Very Large Telescope recovered it on 27 July 2017 at apparent magnitude 26.8, while the asteroid was 0.4 AU (60,000,000 km; 37,000,000 mi) from Earth, making it one of the dimmest asteroid recoveries ever. As such, 2012 TC4 has become the first known asteroid ever to be observed passing less than 1 Lunar distance from Earth twice in a row.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
At the time of recovery the asteroid was about 100 million times fainter than what can be seen with the naked eye and 500 times fainter than when it was discovered in 2012. As a result of the 2017 recovery observations, it was known that on 12 October 2017 at 5:42 UT, the asteroid would pass 0.0003352 AU (50,150 km; 31,160 mi) from Earth. Then at 19:19 UT, the asteroid would pass 0.001856 AU (277,700 km; 172,500 mi) from the Moon. 2012 TC4 peaked at about apparent magnitude 12.9, and was too faint to be seen without a telescope. The Earth approach of 2017 increased the asteroid's orbital period from 1.67 years to 2.06 years.


2012 TC4, Approaches to large bodies, 2017 Earth encounter
2012 TC4 reached a maximum apparent magnitude of 12.9 just prior to its closest approach, soon after which it came too close to the Sun to be seen with telescopes. It was last seen from Mauna Kea Observatories on 21 October 2017 at an apparent magnitude of 24, when the asteroid was 57° from the Sun.


2012 TC4, Physical properties, Fast rotator and tumbler
Studies of the asteroid's light curve in October 2012, found it to have a rotation period of 0.2038 hours (or 12 minutes and 14 seconds) with a brightness variation of 0.93 magnitude (U=3-), which is indicative for a non-spherical shape. 2012 TC4 is a fast rotator, which is rather typical for its small size. The fastest rotator currently known is 2014 RC, a similarly sized NEO, with a period of only 16 seconds. Lightcurves obtained during the 2017 encounter confirmed that 2012 TC4 is in a non-principal axis rotation, commonly known as tumbling. The spin axis varies on timescales of minutes, with a second period of 0.142 hours (or 8.5 minutes). The lightcurve amplitude suggests a ratio of largest to smallest axis of at least 2.3.


2012 TC4, Physical properties, Radar observations
Radar images were taken from Goldstone Observatory and Green Bank Telescope on 12 October 2017. The delay-doppler images had a range resolution of 1.9 meters/pixel, the highest resolution ever obtained using Goldstone transmissions. The images showed that 2012 TC4 was a very elongated object about 50 feet (15 meters) long and roughly 25 feet (8 meters) wide. The high circular polarization ratio found for 2012 TC4 is consistent with results seen from E- and V-type NEAs previously. Observations from Arecibo Observatory were planned, but had to be cancelled due to damage to the observatory as a result of Hurricane Maria.


2012 TC4, Physical properties, Composition
The spectrum of 2012 TC4 is that of an E- or Xe-type asteroid. E-type asteroids tend to have a high albedo (>0.30). This agrees with the albedo of 0.35 found for 2012 TC4. This type of asteroids is commonly found in the inner Main Belt.


2012 TC4, Physical properties, Composition
2012 TC4 is composed of igneous material. The short rotation period of 2012 TC4 implies that it is not a rubble pile but rather a monolithic object of non-negligible strength, which is typical for very small asteroids.


2012 TC4, Orbit change
As a result of 2012 TC4's frequent approaches to Earth, its orbit changes significantly over short periods of only decades. Its two observed close approaches and their effects are shown below:


2012 TC4, Orbit change
Between 2012 and 2017, 2012 TC4's average distance from the sun increased by almost 0.4 AU, with the time it takes to orbit the sun increasing by 250 days. Its closest approach to the Sun also increased significantly, from 90% of the Earth's distance to the Sun to 97%, and its inclination lowered slightly, going from 1.4 degrees to less than 0.5 degrees relative to Earth's orbit.


2012 TC4, Orbit change
As a result of non-gravitational forces such as the Yarkovsky effect on small bodies, it is difficult to constrain its orbit more than a few decades into the past or future.


2012 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2012 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Horned Frogs were led by 12th-year head coach Gary Patterson and played their home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium. This was their first year as members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a four way tie for fifth place. They were invited to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl where they were defeated by Michigan State.


2012 TCU Horned Frogs football team
With their win of a regular season game on September 8, Gary Patterson became, in the history of the Horned Frogs' program history, its winningest head coach.


2012 TEAN International
The 2012 TEAN International was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 17th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2012 ATP Challenger Tour and the 12th edition of the tournament for the 2012 ITF Women's Circuit. It took place in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands between 3 and 9 September 2011.


2012 TEAN International, ATP Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 TEAN International, WTA Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 TEAN International – Men's Doubles
Thiemo de Bakker and Antal van der Duim were the defending champions but decided not to participate together. de Bakker played alongside Thomas Schoorel, while van der Duim partnered up with Boy Westerhof. Rameez Junaid and Simon Stadler won the final 4–6, 6–1, [10–5] against Simon Greul and Bastian Knittel.


2012 TEAN International – Men's Singles
Igor Sijsling is the defending champion, but withdrew prior to the tournament because of a stomach injury. Thiemo de Bakker won the title, defeating Simon Greul 6–4, 6–2 in the final.


2012 TEAN International – Women's Doubles
Diana Enache and Daniëlle Harmsen are the defending champions. Diana married this year and her name changed to Buzean.


2012 TEAN International – Women's Doubles
Buzean and Harmsen successfully defended their title, defeating Corinna Dentoni and Justine Ozga 6–2, 6–0 in the final.


2012 TEAN International – Women's Singles
Stephanie Vogt was the defending champion, but lost in the first round to Justine Ozga.


2012 TEAN International – Women's Singles
Sandra Záhlavová won the title, defeating Lesley Kerkhove 7–5, 7–6(7–5) in the final.


2012 TSL season
The 2012 AFL Tasmania TSL premiership season is a current Australian Rules Football competition staged across Tasmania, Australian over eighteen roster rounds plus one Regional round and six finals series matches between 31 March and 22 September 2012.


2012 TSL season
The League is known as the Wrest Point Tasmanian State League under a commercial naming-rights sponsorship agreement with Wrest Point Casino in Hobart and Federal Group.


2012 TSL season, Participating Clubs, 2012 Foxtel Cup
Note: This match was played as a curtain-raiser to the Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows AFL fixture which drew an attendance of 12,790.


2012 TSL season, Participating Clubs, 2012 Foxtel Cup
Note: This match was played as a curtain-raiser to the St Kilda v Western Bulldogs AFL fixture which drew an attendance of 28,971.


2012 TSL season, 2012 Tasmanian State League Ladder, Round 9
(Friday, 8 June. Saturday, 9 June & Sunday, 10 June 2012)


2012 TSL season, 2012 Tasmanian State League Ladder, Round 12 A
Note: Burnie wore Black and Gold playing colours to honour the 1962 Burnie Tigers NWFU  premiership team.


2012 TSL season, 2012 Tasmanian State League Ladder, Round 14
(Friday, 20 July. Saturday, 21 July & Sunday 22 July 2012)


2012 TTA – Racing Elite League
The 2012 TTA – Racing Elite League season was the only season of the new Racing Elite League run by the Touring Car Team Association. The championship was formed as a breakaway from the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship. Following the season, the two series announced their reunification, under the STCC name but with the TTA technical regulations. Fredrik Ekblom won the championship, driving for Volvo Polestar Racing.


2012 TTA – Racing Elite League, Points standings, Drivers championship
Points were also awarded to the top 3 in qualifying.


2012 TTA – Racing Elite League, Points standings, Drivers championship
The driver who sets the fastest lap will also receive 1 extra point.


2012 TV
2012 TV is a near-Earth Apollo asteroid with an estimated diameter of 50 metres (160 ft). Its closest approach to the Earth was on October 7, 2012 with a distance of 0.0017 astronomical units (250,000 km; 160,000 mi). It also approached the Moon an hour earlier with a distance of 0.0028 astronomical units (420,000 km; 260,000 mi)


2012 Tabasco gubernatorial election
The 2012 gubernatorial election in the Mexican state of Tabasco we held on Sunday, July 1, 2012. Incumbent Tabasco Governor Andrés Granier Melo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is retiring due to mandatory term limits, which limit all Mexican state governors to one, six-year term in office. The Tabasco gubernatorial election coincided with the 2012 Mexican presidential and general elections.


2012 Taiwanese legislative election
The 2012 Taiwanese legislative election was held on 16 January 2012 for all 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan. For the first time, legislative elections were held simultaneously with the presidential election. Elected parliamentarians formed the fifteenth Legislative Yuan session since 1946, when the current constitution came into effect. Voting took place on 14 January 2012 between 08:00 and 16:00 local Taipei time at 14,806 polling stations nationwide.


2012 Taiwanese legislative election, Subsidies
According to the "Civil Servants Election And Recall Act", subsidies are payable to the political parties who sponsor candidates for Legislative Yuan elections. Article 43 has the following specifications:


2012 Taiwanese legislative election, Subsidies
Every year the state shall apportion subsidies for campaign to the political parties, and the standard of apportionment shall be determined based on the latest election of members of the Legislative Yuan. If a ratio of vote attained by the political party achieves not less than 5% in the national integrated election and the overseas election of central civil servants, the subsidy for campaign funds shall be granted to the political party by a rate of NT$50 per vote every year. The Central Election Commission shall work out the amount of the subsidy every fiscal year, and notify the party to prepare the receipt and receive the subsidy from the Central Election Commission within 1 month, till the tenure of the current session of the members of the Legislative Yuan expires.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election
The 13th President and Vice President election of the Republic of China (Chinese: 中華民國第十三任總統、副總統選舉) was held on 14 January 2012. The election was held concurrently with legislative elections. It was the fifth direct election for the President of the Republic of China. Prior to 1996, the President was elected by the ROC's National Assembly and not directly by the people.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election
Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou was re-elected as President with 51.6% of the vote. DPP challenger Tsai Ing-wen resigned her post as chairperson of the DPP following her election defeat.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
The Kuomintang (KMT or Chinese Nationalist Party) ticket won a landslide victory in 2008 over the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party, with a 2.2 million vote margin on 58% of the valid votes.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
The administration of Ma Ying-jeou has been friendlier in policy towards the People's Republic of China and also signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), a preferential trade agreement between the governments of the PRC and the ROC.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
The Democratic Progressive Party was hit hard with former president Chen Shui-bian's corruption revelations, but new chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen rebuilt the party, leading to a series of victories in legislative by-elections and local elections.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
One big election topic appears to be the "1992 consensus", a term describing the declared outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the semi-official representatives of mainland China and Taiwan. The KMT agrees that this consensus should be the basis for negotiations with the PRC and supports it during the election, while the DPP believes that no such consensus was reached and that as a policy it is equivalent to the One-China principle, which the DPP opposes. Instead, the DPP has advocated that a "Taiwan consensus" be produced in a democratic way, by the legislature and a referendum of the people of Taiwan.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates
As determined by a random draw, the DPP's Tsai-Su ticket was listed first on Election Day ballots; the incumbent KMT's Ma-Wu ticket was listed second; and the People First Party (PFP)'s Soong-Lin ticket, third.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, Democratic Progressive Party
Incumbent chairperson Tsai Ing-wen was the DPP nominee. She was designated the party’s candidate in April 2011 following a primary by opinion polls. Candidates for the DPP primary were Tsai, former premier Su Tseng-chang and former chairman Hsu Hsin-liang. Former Vice President Annette Lu Hsiu-lien announced her intention to run but withdrew. On 9 September 2012 candidate Tsai chose DPP secretary-general Su Jia-chyuan as her running mate.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, Kuomintang
Incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou was standing for re-election. There were no challengers within the party, so no primary was necessary.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, Kuomintang
Vice President Vincent Siew chose not to run for a second term, and on 19 June 2011 President Ma selected Premier Wu Den-yih as his running mate.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, Kuomintang
Ma's campaign was run by King Pu-tsung, a former party Secretary-General.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, People First Party
PFP chairman James Soong Chu-yu launched the party's first-ever Presidential bid on 20 September 2011. Soong stated, however, that his candidacy was contingent on the success of a nationwide signature drive, organized by Kao Tsu-min and Yang Fu-mei. He vowed to run and keep his candidacy active through the election if his campaign garnered one million signatures throughout Taiwan.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, People First Party
Soong chose National Taiwan University professor emeritus Lin Ruey-shiung, a career scientist and academic with no political experience, to be his running mate.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Candidates, People First Party
Soong contended that the Taiwanese people desire a third choice outside the two main parties (KMT and DPP), despite concerns that his decision may split the Pan-Blue coalition vote to hand victory to the Pan-Green candidate as may have happened in the 2000 Presidential election.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Polls
After initially trailing, Ma started to pick up the lead, without Soong as a candidate, after September, 2011 in most opinion polls. However, Tsai benefited from the debates in the later stages.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Results
Voting took place between 8:00 and 16:00 local time at 14,806 polling stations. After Ma's re-election, he announced that his victory had vindicated his policies in regards to cross-strait relations. Tsai conceded the election and resigned from her position as head of the DPP. Turnout was reported to be over 74%.


2012 Taiwanese presidential election, Results
Ma Ying-jeou and Wu Den-yih were inaugurated as the President and Vice President of Taiwan respectively at the Presidential Office Building on 20 May 2012.


2012 Tajik League
In the 2012 season of the Tajik League, 13 teams participated. Khosilot, Istaravshan, and Zarafshon, were newly promoted, while Shodmon Ghissar withdrew from the competition. There was a limit of eight foreign players per team, with up to five on the field at a particular time. Only Parvoz Bobojon Ghafurov had the maximum of eight foreign footballers.


2012 Tajik League
The Tajikistan clubs' participation was upgraded from the AFC President's Cup to the AFC Cup starting in 2013 by the AFC, so two clubs (league champions and cup winners) went on to participate in the 2013 AFC Cup.


2012 Tajik Super Cup
The 2012 Tajik Football Super Cup was the 3rd Tajik Supercup match, a football match which was contested between the 2011 League champions, Istiklol, and the Cup champions, Regar-TadAZ.


2012 Tajikistan Cup
The 2012 Tajik Cup was the 2012 edition of the Tajik Cup. The cup winner qualified for the 2013 AFC Cup.


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger
The 2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on hard courts. It was the 13th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2012 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Tallahassee, United States between 2 and 8 April 2012.


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry as an alternate into the singles main draw:


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry from the qualifying draw as a lucky loser:


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger – Doubles
Vasek Pospisil and Bobby Reynolds were the defending champions but decided not to participate together. Reynolds played alongside Carsten Ball, while Pospisil played with Pierre-Ludovic Duclos. Martin Emmrich and Andreas Siljeström won the title, defeating Artem Sitak and Blake Strode 6–2, 7–6(7–4) in the final.


2012 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger – Singles
Donald Young was the defending champion but decided not to participate. Tim Smyczek won the title, when Frank Dancevic retired in the final after losing the first set 5–7.


2012 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election
The 2012 Tameside Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other 2012 United Kingdom local elections.


2012 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election
One third of the council was up for election, with councillors elected in 2008 Tameside Council election defending their seats with vote share changes calculated on that basis.


2012 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election, Results, Dukinfield ward
In 2008, Roy West stood in this ward as a British National Party candidate.


2012 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election, Results, Dukinfield / Stalybridge ward
The previous councillor for Dukinfield / Stalybridge, Dorothy Cartwright, defected from the Conservative Party to the Labour Party in December 2010.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 37th season in the National Football League. It was the first season under new head coach Greg Schiano after the former head coach Raheem Morris was fired due to the team's record of 4–12 last season. This is Ronde Barber's last season before retiring in the 2013 off-season.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Though the club did not make the postseason, the team improved their record to 7–9, and finished the regular season with team records in several statistical categories. The team set a franchise record with 5,820 yards of total offense and 389 total points scored. The defense ranked No. 1 in the league against the rush (82.5 yard/game), also a franchise record. Individual team records include most touchdown passes (27) and most passing yards (4,065) by Josh Freeman, as well as Doug Martin's team rookie rushing record of 1,454 yards. Martin finished with five games of 100+ yards rushing, including a breakout game against Oakland in week 9 rushing for 251 yards and four touchdowns. They also finished with the league's worst passing defense, allowing 4,758 yards (297 yard/game).


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Offseason, 2012 draft class
The Buccaneers traded its 2011 & 2012 fourth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Philadelphia Eagles 2011 fourth-round selection to select tight end Luke Stocker during the 2011 NFL draft. The Buccaneers were selected to draft a player in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft, until a trade with the Houston Texans that took place causing the team to trade their third-round selection to move up certain spots to acquire Lavonte David in the second round. Drake Dunsmore was the only rookie that did not make the 53-man roster during roster cuts. However, Drake Dunsmore did end up making the practice squad of the Buccaneers, but he decided later to retire on May 2, 2013.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Preseason
The Buccaneers 2012 preseason schedule was announced on April 4, 2012. On August 25, Davin Joseph was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury. This occurred Week 2 of the preseason at home against the New England Patriots. The Buccaneers finished the 2012 preseason with a record of 2–2 under new head coach Greg Shiano.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season
On opening day against Carolina, Ronde Barber started his 200th consecutive game as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2002 Super Bowl team are reuniting in attendance for the home game against the Eagles in week 14. The Buccaneers finished the 2012 season with a record of 7–9 under new head coach Greg Schiano.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Season summary
New head coach Greg Schiano installed a new regime and attitude at Tampa Bay upon his arrival. An improved offense set several team records and milestones, and the team ranked No. 1 in rushing defense in the NFL. A weak passing defense (32nd), however, and a five-game losing streak late in the season, saw the team ultimately fall from playoff contention.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Season summary
Tampa Bay won on opening day, but lost three straight games to NFC East opponents in September. However, the team rebounded and won five of their next six games, primarily behind the breakout efforts of rookie running back Doug Martin. In week 8, the team raised eyebrows by winning a nationally televised Thursday night game against the playoff-bound Vikings, then followed it up by a stellar performance by Martin the following week. At Oakland in week 9, Martin rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns, one of the most prolific statistical performances in NFL history. After a comeback overtime win at Carolina, the team sat at 6–4, and actually controlled their own destiny for a wild card playoff berth.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Season summary
Late in November, however, the team began a slump, and fell from the playoff picture. A one-point loss against Atlanta, and a last-second loss versus Philadelphia were part of a five-game losing streak. The team rebounded and finished on a high note, beating the #1 seed Falcons on the road in the final week of the regular season. After a dismal 4–12 record in 2011, the team finished a fairly respectable 7–9 in 2012.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Game summaries, Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers
The Tampa Bay defense held Carolina to only 10 yards rushing, snapping a ten-game losing streak dating back to week 6 of the 2011 NFL season. Tampa Bay's last win was at home on October 16, 2011 against the Saints (26–20). Ronde Barber started his 200th consecutive game, finishing the game with a sack and an interception.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Game summaries, Week 2: at New York Giants
Eli Manning threw for 510 yards, while the Tampa Bay defense allowed over 600 yards to the New York Giants' offense. This was the most offensive yards allowed in Buccaneers franchise history. Tampa Bay had the lead throughout the third quarter, but the Giants came back to win the game in the fourth quarter scoring 25 points. The Buccaneers allowed 96 rushing yards to the Giants.


2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys
Aqib Talib intercepted Tony Romo on the fourth play of the game, which led to a Tampa Bay touchdown and an early lead 7–0 over the Cowboys. However, the Buccaneer offense sputtered, and failed to score on their next nine possessions. In the first 57 minutes of the game, Tampa Bay had only 96 net yards of offense. Adrian Clayborn injured his knee throughout the second half and was expected to miss the rest of the season after the Buccaneers placed him on injured reserve.