The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games were originally an ancient Greek religious festival in honour of Zeus, held in Olympia near Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the gods. The initial date for the beginning of the Games was 776 B.C. They were held every four years, in the middle of the summer; the main condition of the festival was that there should be peace throughout Greece. The ceremonies included contests in oratory, poetry, music, and art, as well as in athletic skills like wrestling, throwing the javelin, and running.

In 394 A.D. the Ancient Olympic Games were terminated. They were reopened in 1896. The International Olympic Committee was organized in the same year. The International Olympic Committee decides which town will be the host. According to the Charter, the Olympic Games unite the amateur sportsmen of different countries irrespective of nationality, race, religious and political views. The motto of the Games is – Citius, Altius, Fortius (quicker, higher, stronger).

The Olympic Flag, a white silk square with five intersecting rings embroidered on it in blue, yellow, black, green and red, was also raised for the first time at the Games’ opening ceremony. The idea behind it was simple: the five rings represented the five continents, the six colours (including the white background of the panel) represented the national colours of all countries without exception.

The most impressive moment in the opening ceremony of the Games is the taking of the Olympic oaths. First a representative athlete from the host country, holding a corner of the Olympic flag, takes the following oath on behalf of all the participants:

“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.”

After the representative athlete, a judge from the host country takes an oath on behalf of all those judging and officiating in the Games.

The main ideals of the Olympic competitions are unity, solidarity and peace.

Tasks:

I. 1). Learn the active vocabulary:

· an ancient religious festival,

· to be held,

· athletic skills,

· to be terminated,

· to be reopened,

· the Charter,

· motto,

· the Olympic oath,

· to take an oath on behalf of.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-03