On September 20, the world celebrates International Student Sports Day, World Rice Day.
On September 20, 1941, the “general battle” took place – one of the unique, most tragic and symbolic battles of the Second World War.
George Raymond Richard Martin was born on September 20, 1948 – one of the most influential people in the world and writers of our time, screenwriter, producer and editor, laureate of numerous literary awards.
International Student Sports Day
The International Day of Student Sports is a holiday that unites young people from different parts of the planet around sports and an active lifestyle. This holiday was launched in 2016 at the initiative of the International Federation of University Sports (FISU) and approved by UNESCO. Its main goal is to popularize student sports, a healthy lifestyle and sports values among young people.
Interesting facts
Student sports have a long history dating back to ancient Greece. It was then that the students of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lycaea were actively engaged in sports, including running, wrestling and other disciplines.
The first collegiate athletic club in the modern sense was founded in 1852 at Harvard University, when Harvard students organized the first official academic rowing competition.
The first World Student Games, or Universiade, took place in 1923 in Paris. Today, the Universiade is the second largest sporting event after the Olympic Games. It is held every two years and gathers student-athletes from all over the world.
Ukrainian athletes have significant success in the international arena. For example, at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, the Ukrainian national team won 20 medals, including 6 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze, taking 11th place overall.
In many countries of the world, sports activity is a mandatory part of the educational process. In the USA, for example, there are special scholarships for talented athletes that allow them to get a higher education at leading universities for free.
Today, student sports include not only traditional sports such as football, volleyball or basketball, but also new disciplines such as eSports. In 2020, FISU officially recognized eSports as part of the student sports movement, and video game competitions are now held as part of the Universiade.
Some outstanding athletes began their careers precisely from student sports. For example, the American swimmer Michael Phelps, who later became a 23-time Olympic champion, started as a student athlete.
Many universities in the world have their own stadiums and sports complexes, which are not inferior to professional ones. For example, the stadium of the University of Michigan in the USA is one of the largest in the world, accommodating more than 107 thousand spectators.
Student sports play an important role in team building, leadership qualities and discipline among young people. Participating in sports helps students develop communication skills, build friendships, and feel part of a larger community.
World Rice Day
It is a holiday that draws attention to one of the most important agricultural crops on the planet. Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population, especially in Asia and Africa. Its importance goes far beyond cooking, because this culture is a symbol of culture, traditions and even economic development of many countries.
Interesting facts
There is evidence that rice began to be grown in China as early as 9,000 years ago. The first civilizations in the Yellow and Yangtze river valleys are believed to have started the tradition of rice cultivation, which later spread throughout Asia.
More than 740 million tons of rice are produced in the world every year. The largest producers are China, India and Indonesia, which together provide more than half of the world’s production.
There are over 40,000 different varieties of rice! They differ in color, grain shape, taste and even aroma. The most common types are long grain (basmati, jasmine), medium grain (arborio) and short grain (Japanese sushi rice).
In many cultures, rice has not only a culinary, but also a symbolic meaning. For example, in Japan, rice is considered a gift from the gods, and its planting is accompanied by religious ceremonies. In China, rice is a symbol of prosperity and well-being, and in India, rice grains are used during wedding ceremonies as a wish for happiness and wealth to the newlyweds.
Rice is usually grown in flooded fields called “rice terraces”. This method allows for efficient use of water, saving its moisture for crops. Rice terraces in the Philippines, which appeared more than 2 thousand years ago, are considered one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
Rice is an important source of energy due to its high carbohydrate content, and it also contains minerals and B vitamins. Brown rice, unlike white rice, retains the grain shell, which makes it richer in fiber and nutrients.
Growing rice has a serious impact on the environment. Flooded rice fields are a source of methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas. However, scientists are working on new growing methods that help reduce this impact, including dry growing techniques and the use of varieties that require less water.
In today’s world, the latest technologies come to the aid of farmers. For example, in Japan, drones and robotic systems are actively used for planting and harvesting rice, which increases production efficiency.
Rice is the main source of income for millions of farmers in poor regions of the world. The well-being of entire communities often depends on how successfully the crop is harvested.
Rice is a versatile ingredient in a variety of dishes, from sushi in Japan to paella in Spain and pilaf in Central Asia. It is also used to make a variety of desserts, such as rice pudding or sweet mohi rice cake in Japan.
Historical events on this day
In the year 622 Prophet Muhammad and his companions were relocated from Mecca to Medina. This event, known as the hijra, marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and marked an important stage in the development of Islam, when Muhammad established the first Muslim community.
In 1246 Grand Duke of Kyiv Mykhailo Vsevolodovich was executed by the Mongols for refusing to worship their idols. This became a tragic episode in Russia’s struggle with the Mongol yoke.
In 1258 in England, the Salisbury Cathedral was consecrated, which became one of the most famous architectural monuments of medieval Europe.
1519 year marked the beginning of the first circumnavigation under the leadership of the Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan. His expedition proved that the Earth has a spherical shape and the world ocean is one whole, which changed people’s perception of the planet.
In 1562 England signed an agreement with the French Huguenots, which gave them control over the port city of Le Havre. In return, the English provided military aid to the Huguenots in their struggle against Catholic forces. It was part of the religious conflicts that engulfed Europe in the 16th century.
In 1792 a significant event for France was the adoption of the law on divorce. This decision was the first step towards legal recognition of the right to private life and freedom of choice, which changed marriage and family relations in society.
In 1866 Hanover and Frankfurt were included in the Kingdom of Prussia. This became part of the process of unification of the German lands, which culminated in the creation of the German Empire in 1871.
In 1870 the unification of Italy was completed when Rome became the capital of the newly created Kingdom of Italy. This event became key in the process of the Italian Risorgimento, which united the disparate Italian states into a single national state.
In 1946, In France, the Cannes Film Festival opened for the first time, becoming one of the most prestigious film forums in the world.
In 1954 an electronic computer executed the first program in the high-level programming language Fortran. This marked the beginning of the era of modern programming, when computer technology began to develop at a rapid pace.
In 1970 automatic interplanetary station “Luna-16” for the first time carried out drilling of lunar soil and delivered its samples to Earth, which became an important event in space exploration.
In 1991 the National Security Service of Ukraine was created in Ukraine, which was later reorganized into the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This was an important step in the formation of an independent Ukrainian state.
In 1992 in France, in a referendum, the majority of citizens voted for the country’s accession to the European Union. This decision became one of the key moments in the process of European integration.
In 2003 at the referendum in Latvia, citizens voted for joining the EU, which opened up new opportunities for the country’s development and its integration into the European community.
In 2008 the first IMAX cinema opened in Ukraine, which became a new stage in the development of cinematography and visual entertainment technologies.
“General battle”
On September 20, 1941, one of the most tragic and symbolic battles of the Second World War took place, when the headquarters of the South-Western Front engaged in hand-to-hand combat with German troops. In a fierce clash with units of General Model’s 3rd tank division in the Shumeikove tract in the Poltava region, the commander of the front, colonel-general Mykhailo Petrovych Kirponos, and other high-ranking officers who remained faithful to their oath until their last breath were killed.
Mykhailo Petrovych Kirponos is a Ukrainian born in the Chernihiv region. After the battle, so that the German troops could not understand who exactly they eliminated, the soldiers destroyed all the general’s insignia. They tore up and burned the overcoat that General Kirponos was wearing, so as not to reveal the rank of the fallen commander. The general’s body was buried directly in a ravine under continuous enemy fire.
This battle became the most “star” in the entire history of the Second World War, because the death of such a large number of senior officers in battle was a unique case. In 1943, after the return of the Red Army to these territories, the remains of Mykhailo Kyrponos were reburied in Kyiv, honoring the memory of the fallen general and his brave comrades.
George Raymond Richard Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin was born on September 20, 1948 in the USA, in a large family of a port loader, a famous fiction writer, screenwriter, producer and editor, laureate of numerous literary awards. Since childhood, he was fond of reading and made up his own horror stories, which he sold to neighborhood children. Over time, his creativity went far beyond the boundaries of childhood fascination, and he began to offer his works to the whole world.
The fantasy cycle “A Song of Ice and Fire” brought Martin the greatest popularity, the first novel of which was published in 1996. This epic canvas was later filmed by the HBO company in the form of the world-famous television series “Game of Thrones”. Thanks to this series, George Martin gained world fame and became one of the most influential writers of our time.
In 2011, “Time” magazine included him in the list of the most influential people in the world. Martin is known for his profound statements that convey his vision of the world and human nature:
“There is no creature in the world more terrible than a truly just person.”
“He who plays the game of thrones either wins or dies. There is no middle ground.”
“Never forget who you are, because the world certainly won’t. Make your origin your strength. Don’t let it become your weakness. Put it on like armor, and then no one can hurt you.”
“People often prefer to deny the brutal truth than to face it face to face.”
“When a person draws a target on his chest, he must be ready that sooner or later someone will shoot an arrow at him.”
“A reader can live a thousand lives, and one who does not read – only one.”
George Martin has become a true icon of modern fiction, his works inspire millions of readers around the world, and the depth of his philosophical ideas make you think about the essence of human existence.
