YOU CAN LEARN: junio 2012

GOOD BYE BIG BEN - HELLO ELIZABETH TOWER

The iconic Clock Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, symbol of the English capital is due to be renamed very soon to celebrate the 60 year reign of her Royal Majesty.
To change the name of the popular Big Ben, that is the motion that has been considered and finally confirmed by the British Parliament that will see the Queen forever tower over London to celebrate the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee.

RAFA NADAL NAMED OLYMPIC FLAG BEARER FOR SPAIN

Rafael Nadal will carry the flag for the Spanish Olympic team at the London Games.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion was chosen Wednesday by the Spanish Olympic Committee to lead the team at the opening ceremony July 27.

"For me the chance to carry the flag representing all the Spanish athletes in London is a true honor," Nadal said in a statement. "I think carrying the flag will be one of the most moving moments of my entire career.

"I can only say thanks and wish my fellow athletes the best of luck."

Nadal will defend his gold medal in singles from the 2008 Beijing Games and participate in doubles with Marcel Granollers.

These will be his third Olympics.

The Mallorca native is a national figure in Spain and has won a record seven French Opens.

The tennis events run from July 28 to Aug. 5 on Wimbledon's grass courts. Nadal has won Wimbledon twice. Last week, Russia's sports minister said French Open champion Maria Sharapova was among the contenders to carry the Russian Olympic team flag at the London Games. Djokovic was also in line to lead Serbia's team in the opening ceremony.

NADAL WINS SEVENTH FRENCH OPEN TO BECOME PARIS LEGEND

Rafa Nadal beat Kjokovic over four sets and two sessions to secure a record seventh French Open title in eight years. Nadal won 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in 3hr 49min
Djokovic said of Nadal: "He's definitely the best player in history on this surface and results are showing that he's one of the best players to have played the game. He's only 26 years old. We are very young and whave played over 30 times against each other. Hopefully, we can have many more battles in the next years."

Nadal, who celebrated in tears and laughter with his family in the stands after the match, said: "It's probably the most special moment of my career. To hold this trophy is unforgettable.

The Spaniard turned 26 during the tournament – the same age Bjorn Borg retired – but said he will play for as long as his mind, body and spirit can stand it.

CORPUS CHRISTI FESTIVAL

The festival of Corpus Christi celebrates the Eucharist as the body of Christ. The name 'Corpus Christi' is Latin for 'the body of Christ'.

This jubilant festival is celebrated by Roman Catholics and other Christians to proclaim the truth of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during Mass.

In some countries in the world, Catholic churches still celebrate the festival, not only with a Mass, but also with a procession that carries the consecrated wafer through the streets as a public statement that the sacrifice of Christ was for the salvation of the whole world.

Corpus Christi falls between late May and the middle of June, on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (60 days after Easter). In some countries the festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

In the Church of England this feast is also kept on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and known as the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi).

It's worth noting that Christians already mark the Last Supper, when Christ instituted the Eucharist, on Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday). Because Maundy Thursday falls during the solemn period of Holy Week, it was thought necessary to have a separate festival of the Eucharist that would allow the celebration not to be muted by sadness.

DIAMOND JUBILEE RIVER THAMES PAGEANT TO HONOUR QUEEN

Thousands of people are lining (3rd June 2012) the Thames in London for the Jubilee river pageant despite wet weather, as street parties get under way nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to watch the Queen's barge lead a 1,000-strong flotilla.

The nautical parade, marking 60 years of her reign, promises to be the most spectacular in London for 350 years. Prince Charles has joined a London street party in Piccadilly and concerts and events are taking place UK-wide. Meanwhile, some people heading into London for the celebrations have been delayed because they have been unable to get on crowded trains. When the pageant begins, the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other senior royals will travel from Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge aboard a lavishly adapted royal barge - the Spirit of Chartwell - decorated with almost 10,000 cut flowers. The spectacle, which began with mustering at 11:30 BST, will end at about17:30 after the last vessel completes the seven-mile route at Tower Bridge. The Thames barrier is being lowered to slow the river's flow. Some 20,000 people are expected to be in the boats of the flotilla, which will travel at 4 knots (4.6 miles) an hour. Boats heading to the muster points at Hammersmith and Battersea bridges sounded their horns and were met with cheers from crowds on the banks as bells from churches sounded. A steady stream of rowing and paddle boats headed up to the front of the flotilla.

QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE INSPIRES RECORD BREAKERS ACROSS THE UK

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years as British monarch in 2012, and the celebration have triggered a burst of record breaking across the UK.

The Jubilee-themed attempts have records have already started as seen by the longest line of fanfare trumpeters at Wellington Barracks which took place last week, but a host of others are set over the bank holiday weekend.

Guinness World Records has confirmed that the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant (3rd June 2012) has set a new world record for the number of boats taking part in a parade. The previous record - now smashed - was 327, set in in Bremerhaven, Germany, last year.

ROYALS ARRIVE FOR JUBILEE PAGEANT 3rd JUNE 2012

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE

Members of the Royal family arrives as the Diamond Jubilee river pageant gets under way.

Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the Thames to watch the Queen's barge in a 1,000-strong flotilla.

The nautical parade, marking 60 years of her reign, promises to be the most spectacular in London for 350 years.

The Queen and other senior royals are aboard a lavishly-adapted royal barge called the Spirit of Chartwell.