* The international day of sport journalists is marked on the initiative of the International Sport Press Association since 1995.
* Michel de Notre-Dame, or NOSTRADAMUS (1503-1566), physician in ordinary to King Charles IX, died 438 years ago. He is famous as the author of "Centuries", which contained predictions of forthcoming European events.
* Composer and opera reformer Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) was born 290 years ago. He composed over 40 operas ("Orpheus and Eurydice", "Paris and Helen", etc.)
* Well-known African politician Patrice LUMUMBA (1925-1961), first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo was born 79 years ago. After Lumumba's assassination University of People's Friendship in Moscow was given his name (today Russian University of People's Friendship).
* Bulgarian statesman and politician Georgi DIMITROV (1882-1949), leader of the failed Communist uprising in September 1923, died 55 years ago. In 1942 he founded the Bulgarian Patriotic Front.
* In 1964, 40 years ago US President Lyndon JOHNSON signed the Civil Rights Act proposed by his predecessor John F. Kennedy in 1963. The act put a formal end to racial, religious, sex and national discrimination.
IN RUSSIA:
* Painter Konstantin MAKOVSKY (1839-1915), member of the Artists' Association and St. Petersburg Arts Academy ("Children Running from Rain", portraits, etc.), was born 165 years ago.
* Diplomat and journalist Valentin BEREZHKOV (1916-1998) was born 88 years ago. He was a personal interpreter of Soviet leaders, for instance Joseph Stalin.
* In 1938, 66 years ago female crew including Marina RASKOVA, Polina OSIPENKO and Vera LOMAKO flew route Sevastopol-Arkhangelsk for record non-stop flight. They covered 2,416 km in 10 hours 33 minutes.
* Writer and poet Vladimir NABOKOV (1899-1977) died 27 years ago. He lived in emigration since 1919. He published books of verses and novels "Mashenka", "Pnin", "The Luzhin Defense", "Invitation to a Beheading", "King, Queen, Knave", "The Gift" in Russian. His novel "Lolita" written in the Russian and English languages made his famous all over the world in 1955.
* Actress and film director Larisa SHEPITKO (1938-1979) was killed in a car crash 25 years ago. He best film "The Ascent" (after Vasil Bykov's story "Sotnikov") won a lot of awards.
* Statesman Andrei GROMYKO (1909-1989), USSR Foreign Minister in 1957-1985, died 15 years ago.
* The last 28th congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union opened 14 years ago, in 1990.
* The medal "To the defender of Free Russia" was established 12 years ago, in 1992.
