The launch of this blog and the 2012 London Olympics

Today, July 27, 2012, celebrates the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the launch of this blog, DiurnaLearn. The purpose of this blog is to promote learning every day, which can be gleaned from its title. Learning something new every day can enrich our lives and can change the way we see the world; it calls our attention to the small, often-overlooked details all around us.

Since the 2012 Olympics is upon us, I think it is fitting to learn about the five interlocking rings that  serve as the official symbol of the Olympics. The now-ubiquitous symbol was designed in 1912 by the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin. The five rings symbolize the five continents competing in the Olympics, namely the Americas (North & South), Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The colors of the rings embrace the colors found on the national flags of all participating countries. Although there may be a color on a country's flag not found on the rings, the rings will contain at least one color on each country's flag. The fact that the rings are interlocked represents the valuing of sportsmanship and the coming together of all countries for healthy competition.