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2017 World Taekwondo Championships Muju



Integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit — all of these are on display at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in Muju, South Korea. Oh, and some pretty impressive knee strikes and reverse round kicks!

The World Taekwondo Championships have taken place every other year since 1973. Outside of the Olympics, they’re the most prestigious event for those who practice the sport — in fact, the seven days feature more competitors from a greater number of nations than does the four-day Olympic event. Many talented athletes will make names for themselves at the championships this year, and their careers will be carefully followed by taekwondo enthusiasts as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics approach.

Though taekwondo is an intensely physical sport, its philosophical roots center on the building of a more peaceful society. By cultivating a foundation of respect, humility, and control in the individual, practitioners of taekwondo aim to inspire this sense of responsibility and spirituality in others through their actions and teachings.

Today’s Doodle was created with community and diversity in mind. Who will emerge victorious in this year’s Worlds? We can’t wait to find out!

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ICC 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup Begins!



Ah, summer: the sound of leather on willow, and the spectacle of cricket ... cricket! As the tournament begins, something buzzes outside. A team of crickets sans tickets have set up their own wickets for a game of pest cricket! As they face their archrivals, the snails, it’s sure to be a match for the centuries. Don’t be fooled by their sluggish looks — these fielders can be fast on their feet!

To celebrate the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup, we’re inviting everyone to tap/click and take a swing at our pocket-size game!

We know that cricket is loved worldwide, so we wanted to make sure our Doodle works for everyone, including those on slower mobile networks. We kept the file size fly-sized, and the result is our smallest interactive Doodle ever — even snail networks can load it in seconds.

Whether you're enjoying the tournament at a snail’s pace or bowling faster than the beat of a hummingbird's wings, here's hoping you hit it out of the park this summer!

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Juana Manso’s 198th Birthday



Born on this date in 1819 in Buenos Aires, Juana Paula Manso was a feminist long before the word took on its modern-day meaning. Manso wore many hats, including journalist, novelist, translator, activist, and educator.

Raised in an era when much of society felt that a woman’s place was in the home, and a time when few but the wealthy sent their children to school, Manso defied the cultural conventions of the day. As a young woman, she set up a school in Montevideo (Uruguay), sowing the seeds of her impactful career. Over the ensuing years she zigzagged between Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, with stints in the U.S. and Cuba.

Steadfast in her convictions, Manso wrote articles about women’s emancipation, as well as a compendium of Argentine history that was used in the country’s schools. She also wrote the historical novels La familia del Comendador and Misterios del Plata, which spoke out against slavery and racism. Manso was an early advocate of co-education and found a like-minded collaborator in fellow intellectual Domingo F. Sarmiento, who made her the head of an experimental school for boys and girls in Buenos Aires in 1858.

Today we remember Manso with a playful Doodle from guest artist Mariana Ruiz Johnson, an Argentine illustrator of children’s books, including Mama and Sleep Tight. “As a feminist and a children's books creator, I was interested in Juana Manso's legacy,” says Johnson. “It was a honor to make this Doodle.” The artist, who describes her work as “colorful, ornamented, surrealistic,” counts Latin American folk art, fairy tales, childhood memories, and her five-year-old son among her key inspirations.

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Celebrating Victor Hugo



Today we celebrate world-renowned poet, statesman, and human rights activist Victor Hugo. The final chapter of his epic novel Les Misérables was published on this date in 1862.

Before he turned 30, Hugo was already an established poet, dramatist, artist, and novelist. Today's Doodle depicts some of his best-known works, including Notre Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) (1831) and the poetry collection Les Contemplations (1856). Between those milestones, Hugo began his legendary novel Les Misérables, about social injustice, redemption, and revolution.

By the time Les Misérables was published in 1862, Hugo had been exiled almost 10 years for his political views. During that time, he produced three poetry collections, plus numerous books about social and economic disparity, including Les Travailleurs de la Mer (Toilers of the Sea) and L’Homme Qui Rit (The Man Who Laughs). Hugo later founded the Association Litteraire et Artistique Internationale to support artists’ rights.

Hugo appeared on a French banknote and is honored with streets, parks, hiking trails, and statues in most large French cities, as well as in Guernsey, where he lived in exile. Today's Doodle is a fitting addition to the long list of tributes to the venerable Victor Hugo.

Explore the life and works of Victor Hugo by visiting Google Arts & Culture.

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Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi’s 87th Birthday



In 1960s Pakistan, Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi stroked new life into the centuries-old art of Islamic calligraphy, turning words into vibrantly detailed expressionist paintings. Today’s Doodle celebrates Sadequain’s legacy as one of Pakistan’s most popular and prolific artists.

Sadequain created his own distinct script outside of the traditional kufic (angular) and naskh (cursive) styles. Descended from a family of calligraphers, he turned a practical art form into one of vivid expression — a shift that has given calligraphy a presence in the contemporary art scene of Pakistan.

Sadequain also painted vast murals, drew elaborate illustrations, and even wrote powerful poetry. Though he created a large body of work, he rejected material wealth. He was an artist for the people and was known to give his paintings away for free, even refusing to take on commissions from royalty and heads of state around the world.

Many of Sadequain's murals still adorn the walls of public buildings in Pakistan and India. One of them, “Quest for Knowledge,” can be seen on the ceiling of the Lahore Museum — or online at the Google Cultural Institute.

Renowned for his work in Pakistan, Sadequain received national awards like the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Presidential Medal of Honor. He was also recognized in art circles abroad, receiving the Paris Biennale Prize in 1961.

Today we celebrate Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi with Pakistan and honor his contributions to the arts and to public space.

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Assia Djebar’s 81st Birthday



Many women achieve greatness, but few become “Immortal.” Assia Djebar was the first woman from the Maghreb to be given the "Immortal" title, as a member of the Académie Française.

Born Fatima-Zohra Imalayene on this date in 1936, the Algerian novelist, translator, and filmmaker used the pen name Assia Djebar. She was the first Algerian woman to be admitted to the country’s top literary university, the Ecole Normale Superieure. Djebar published her first book at 21; by the time she was 30, she had written 4 novels in French. She quickly became one of North Africa's most influential writers.

A feminist, Djebar wrote about women's independence and encouraged Algerian women to forge their own paths and find their unique voices. She believed that education was the key to giving women a voice in society, and in 1962 began teaching history at the University of Algiers. Her work inspired many women to express themselves freely.

Today’s Doodle reflects a scene from the first chapter of Djebar’s novel Fantasia, in which she explores the history of Algeria through her experiences as a young girl.

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Amy Johnson’s 114th Birthday



Today we celebrate pioneering British aviator Amy Johnson. The first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, Johnson became a symbol of perseverance and a feminist inspiration around the world.

Breaking into the male-dominated field of aviation proved difficult but not impossible for Johnson. Though she was not a naturally gifted pilot, Amy possessed an unshakable resilience that inspired future generations. In fact, before setting her first world flying record in 1930, Amy’s strong determination and drive qualified her to be the first British-trained woman ground engineer — for a brief time, she was the only woman in the world to hold that job title.

That sort of resume does not go unnoticed. To honor the homecoming of her record-breaking solo flight from England to Australia, Amy was welcomed back with the tune “Amy, Wonderful Amy” — a hit song recorded by Jack Hylton and His Orchestra.

Johnson quickly joined the ranks of other top female aviators, such as Amelia Earhart and Florence “Pancho” Barnes, by breaking several more world records — including her husband’s record for the fastest solo flight from London to Cape Town. Throughout her career, she made headlines as the “British Girl Lindbergh”and “The Long Girl Flyer.” She later shifted her solo flying adventures into a stint as First Officer in the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War.

To celebrate the spirit of this fearless flyer, today’s Doodle reminds us that there is no challenge too high or too far. Happy 114th birthday, "wonderful Amy"!

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140th Anniversary of Wimbledon



Today’s Doodle marks the 140th year of the Wimbledon championships, the world’s oldest tennis tournament. Each year, hundreds of players take a shot at winning this Grand Slam event. Wimbledon has drawn crowds since the dawn of professional tennis, way back when players were using handmade wooden rackets. The tournament is known for its grass courts, perfectly maintained to a neat 8mm — a sturdy height for fast-moving feet.

Like all British institutions, Wimbledon has its endearing quirks. Keep an eye out for the beloved Rufus the Hawk (featured in the Doodle), who dutifully shoos away any pigeons who land on the court during a match. And if you're wondering what the spectators are snacking on, it's strawberries and cream — 28,000kg every year!

To many fans and players, Wimbledon is tennis. Good luck to this year's competitors!

Here’s a look at earlier concepts of this year’s Wimbledon Doodle:

This concept shows just how fickle Wimbledon weather can be!



This idea captures the back-and-forth volley of spectators' attentive eyes:

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Natalia Goncharova's 136th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 136th birthday of Russian art icon Natalia Goncharova. Her contributions to the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century have made her one of the most famous and sought-after female artists in the twenty-first century art market.

Goncharova was born on June 21st, 1881, in a small village southeast of Moscow in the Tula province.[WN] Her father Sergei Goncharov was a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, and Natalia began her career by attending the prestigious institute as well. She initially focused on sculpture, with great success; just three years after she began her studies, her work was shown at major Russian salons. In 1909, Goncharova left the institute to help form the Jack of Diamonds, an avant-garde group that focused on combining Russian folk art with developing styles like Russian Primitivism.

Later in her career, Goncharova’s work showed the influence of other emerging styles like Russian Futurism. As the Russian art scene overflowed with new movements, like Rayonism and Cubo-Futurism, Goncharova became a pioneering force. Critic and patron Sergei Diaghilev described her as “the most celebrated of [the] advanced painters” of her time. Later in life, her influence and portfolio expanded into new mediums as she traveled through Europe. In Geneva, Goncharova began designing ballet costumes and sets. She continued on to Paris, where she turned her talent to fashion design. Like her early work, the dresses she designed drew heavily on Russian folk art.

After decades of work and an international career, Goncharova died in Paris in October of 1962. Her pieces are displayed around the world at the Museum of Modern Art, the Tretyakov Gallery, Tate, and more. Today’s Doodle reflects Goncharova’s folk art influences and her distinctive, colorful style.

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Fourth of July 2017



Whether you know it as the Fourth of July, Independence Day, or simply America’s birthday, today’s Doodle commemorates an important day in U.S. history. 241 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence, a document proclaiming freedom from Great Britain. And thus the United States of America was born. Each year on this day, Americans from coast to coast unite to celebrate the birth of their country with traditions such as parades, firework displays, and barbecuing with family and friends.

Today’s Doodle is inspired by Stephen Mather (also born July 4), a noted conservationist and the first director of the National Parks Service. Often hailed as “America’s Best Idea,” the NPS was created by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Over a century old, America’s national parks span 84 million acres and host more than 275 million visitors every year.

However you spend this Fourth of July, we hope you'll join us in wishing America a very happy birthday!