Olympic Games. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

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The Olympic Games is the athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece and was revived in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to amateurs, but since that time many events have been opened to professional athletes. The earliest Olympic Games comprised many of the sports now included in the Summer Games. In 1924 the Winter Games were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world's foremost sports competition.

The Ancient Olympics originated in 776 BC; this is based on inscriptions, found at Olympia. The Games, held every four years, were abolished in AD 393 by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, probably because of their pagan associations.

In 1887 the 24-year-old Pierre, baron de Coubertin, conceived the idea of reviving the Olympic Games and spent seven years preparing public opinion in France, England, and the United States to support his plan. At an international congress in 1894, his plan was accepted and the International Olympic Committee was founded. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in April 1896, with 13 nations sending nearly 300 representatives to take part in 42 events and 10 different sports. The revival of the Olympic Games led to the formation of many international bodies controlling their own amateur sports and to the creation of National Olympic Committees in countries throughout the world.

From 1896 on the medal (gold, silver and bronze) became the Olympic award.

In 1920 the Olympic flag with five interlaced rings of blue, black, red, yellow, and green colours on a white background – symbol of the unity of the five continents – was hoisted for the first time in Antwerp.

For the first time the Olympic oath rang out at the opening ceremony of the 1920 Olympic Games. The following words were pronounced: “In the name of all competitors I promise that we will take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams.”

The motto adopted by the International Olympic Committee – “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger) – made its appearance at the Antwerp Games too.

Notes to the text:

1. B.C. [bi: 'si:] = before Christ [kraist] – до нашей эры;

2. A.D.['ei'di:] = anno Domini лат. – нашей эры

3. pagan – языческий

WORD LIST:

originate	[ə'rɪʤ(ə)neit]	происходить, возникать
revive	[rɪ'vaɪv]	возрождать
amateur	['æmətə]	любитель
comprise	[kəm'praɪz]	включать в себя, содержать
include	[ɪn'klu:d]	включать
competition	[kɔmpə'tɪʃ(ə)n]	соревнование
abolish	[ə'bɔlɪʃ]	отменять
conceive	[kən'si:v]	представлять себе, понимать
hold (held, held)	[həuld]	проводить
representative	[reprɪ'zentətɪv]	представитель
cycling	['saɪklɪŋ]	велоспорт
weightlifting	['weɪtlɪftɪŋ]	тяжелая атлетика
rowing	['rəuɪŋ]	гребля
wrestling	['reslɪŋ]	борьба
shooting	['ʃu:tɪŋ]	стрельба
sailing	['seɪlɪŋ]	парусный спорт
cancel	['kæns(ə)l]	отменять
team	[ti:m]	команда
accept	[ək'sept]	принимать
horseback-riding	['hɔ:sbæk 'raɪdɪŋ]	верховая езда
win (won, won)	[wɪn] [wʌn]	побеждать

II. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Where and when did the ancient Olympic Games originate?

2. How often were the ancient Olympic Games held?

3. What kind of contests did they include?

4. Why were the ancient Olympic Games banned?

5. When were the modern Olympic Games revived?

6. What do you know about Pierre de Coubertin?

7. What Olympic Games were a turning point in the entire Olympic movement?

8. What ceremonies were introduced in 1920 in Antwerp?

9. What is the motto of the Olympics?

10. Did you watch the last Olympics on TV? Who showed the best results at the Olympic Games? Do you know where the next Olympic Games will be held?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31