England, France, and Guam

England

The Olympics have arrived in London. The summer games offi cially start July 27 and run through August 12. The Olympic Torch arrived in the United Kingdom on May 18. The Summer Olympic Games occur every four years and include 26 sports with more than 10,000 competitors. There are 302 medal events over the 19 days of competition. The Paralympic Games, which are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; include 20 sports with 4,200 athletes.

France

On July 14, the French celebrate Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale. The fall of the Bastille prison marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. The people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison and freed the political prisoners, who were placed there by order of the King (on this historic day, there were only seven prisoners, none of whom were very important). Today Bastille Day is the French national holiday celebrated by ceremonies, dances, military parades, dinners and fi reworks.

Guam

Guam is an island in the western Pacifi c Ocean near Japan. During World War II, Guam was attacked and invaded by Japanese forces. It was occupied for almost three years. On July 21, 1944, the U.S. returned and fought the Battle of Guam to recapture the island. Guam became a territory of the United States, and the Guamanian people, also known as Chamorro, were granted United States citizenship. Each year on July 21, the people of Guam celebrate Liberation Day with ceremonies, parades, fi reworks and gatherings with family and friends.