Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have had a long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries at Olympia. They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling and the like. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olympia to compete in the Games. During the Games all wars stopped. The Olympic Games became a symbol of peace and friendship.

In 394 AD the Games were abolished. They were renewed many centuries later.

In 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the international sports officials and pointed out the significance of sport and its educational value.

Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place. The competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.

In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is made up of the representatives of all the countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the Games, the number of participants and selects the host city of the Games. Over 150 countries are members of the International Olympic Committee. Each country has its own National Olympic Committee.

Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities competing to host the Games. The most suitable city is selected by the International Olympic Committee. After being selected, the host city begins preparations for the Games. It constructs new sports facilities as well as hotels and press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games. It takes a lot of time, effort and money to arrange everything properly. There is always an interesting cultural programme. It includes concerts, exhibitions, festivals and so on.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then Russia’s athletes have won a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted the Twenty-Second Olympic Games. The last Olympic Games were held in Beijing in 2008. The next ones will be held in 2012 in London. The 2014 Olympic Games will be held in the Russian city of Sochi. At the moment much is being done in preparation for the Olympic Games. New sports facilities and hotels are being built.

Essay 10:

In recent years the Paralympics have grown dramatically in popularity. Still some spectators feel uncomfortable and sorry for disabled competitors. What is your opinion? Is it natural for athletes to be disabled? Can physical disabilities prevent people from doing sports?

Answer the questions:

1. What sports do you like watching on TV? Do you do any of these sports yourself? Why?

2. What sports do you play? Do you do them for pleasure or to keep fit?

3. Which of the sports is the healthiest? The most popular? A waste of time and money?

4. “Having good health is very different from only being not sick.” Seneca the Younger

5. Would you like to try any life-threatening sports that claim the lives of many people?

Write a short essay “Sport in my life”

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14