Swimming

Cave paintings from the Stone Age were found in the "Cave of Swimmers" in southwestern Egypt, near the Libyan border. These pictures seem to show breaststroke or dog paddle, although it may also be possible that the movements have a ritual meaning unrelated to swimming. An Egyptian clay seal dated between 4000 B.C. and 9000 B.C. shows four swimmers who are believed to be swimming a variant of the front crawl. More references to swimming are found in Babylonian and Assyrian wall drawings, depicting a variant of the breaststroke. Depictions of swimmers were also found from the Hittites, Minoans, and other Middle Eastern civilizations, in mosaics in Pompeii.

Written references date back to 2000 B.C. including Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Bible, Beowulf, and other sagas, although the style is never described. There are also many mentions of swimmers in the Vatican and Bourbon codices.

The Germanic folklore describes swimming, which was used successfully in wars against the Romans. Swimming was initially one of the seven agilities of knights during the Middle Ages, including swimming with armour. However, as swimming was done in a state of undress, it became less popular as society became more conservative in the early Modern period. For example, in the 16th century, a German court document prohibited the naked public swimming of children.

In 1539, Nicolas Wynman, German professor of languages, wrote the first swimming book. His goal wasn't exercise, but instead it was to reduce the dangers of drowning. Nevertheless, the book contained a very good and methodical approach to learning breaststroke, and includes swimming aids such as air filled cow bladders, reed bundles and cork belts.

In 1587, Everard Digby also wrote a swimming book, claiming that humans can swim better than fish. Digby was a Senior Fellow at St. John's College, Cambridge, interested in the scientific method. His short treatise contained over 40 woodcut illustrations depicting various methods of swimming, including the breaststroke, backstroke and the crawl. Digby regarded the breaststroke as the most useful form of swimming.

In 1603, the first national swimming organization was established in Japan. Emperor Go-Yozei of Japan declared that school children should swim.

The first indoor swimming pool was built in England in 1862. An Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain was organized in 1880 with more than 300 members. Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim the English channel (between England and France), in 1875. He used breaststroke, swimming 21.26 miles (34.21 km) in 21 hours and 45 minutes. He died in 1882 while attempting to swim the Niagara Falls.

In 1879, King Ludwig II of Bavaria built a swimming pool in castle Linderhof. This is believed to be the first artificial wave pool and also featured electrically heated water and light.

The Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, a male-only competition. Six events were planned for the swimming competition, but only four events were actually contested: 100 m, 500 m, and 1200 m freestyle and 100 m for sailors. There were two additional unusual swimming events (although common at the time): an obstacle swimming course in the Seine river (swimming with the current), and an underwater swimming race. Women were first allowed to swim in the Olympic Games in 1912 in Stockholm, competing in freestyle races. At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, lane dividers made of cork were used for the first time, and lines on the pool bottom aided with orientation.

In 1908 the World Swimming Association (FINA) was formed.

In 1943 the US ordered the reduction of fabric in swimsuits by 10% due to wartime shortages, resulting in the first two piece swimsuits. Shortly afterwards the Bikini was invented in Paris by Louis Reard (officially) or Jacques Heim (earlier, but slightly larger).

Other modifications were developed for swimming styles. In1998 a new set of rules was introduced by FINA to increases the speed and for safety reasons.

Tasks:

I. Practise the pronunciation of the words:

Egypt, Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Bible, Beowulf, Japan, Athens, Stockholm.

II. Explain the styles of swimming (use an English-English dictionary):

· breaststroke;

· backstroke,

· crawl,

· butterfly,

· freestyle.

III. 1). Find the English for the following in the text:

· ритуальное значение,

· настенные рисунки,

· сказания,

· гравюры,

· рыцари,

· оружие,

· военное время,

· бассейн с искусственными волнами,

· купальный костюм,

· спасательные средства.

IV. Translate the adjectives into English, give their comparative and superlative degrees:

быстрый, глубокий, популярный, опасный, безопасный, успешный, полезный, узкий, длинный, скоростной.

V. Insert a right article where it is necessary:

1. … Egyptian clay seal is dated between 4000 BC and 9000 BC.

2. …depictions of …swimmers were found from … Hittites, …Minoans, and …other Middle Eastern civilizations and in … mosaics in …Pompeii.

3. …book contained … very good and … methodical approach to learning … breaststroke.

4. … first national swimming organization was established in … Japan.

5. … Captain … Matthew Webb was … first man to swim … English channel

6. … new set of rules was introduced by … FINA.

7. … Olympic Games were held in 1896 in … Athens, … male-only competition.

8. At … 1924 Summer Olympics in …Paris, … lane dividers made of … cork were used for … first time, and … lines on … pool bottom aided with … orientation.

VI. Answer the following questions:

1. Where and when were the first evidences of swimming found?

2. What swimming style seemed the best one in ancient times?

3. Where are early written references to swimming mentioned?

4. What does the Germanic folklore tell about swimming?

5. What was Nicolas Wynman’s goal of writing the book about swimming?

6. What did Everard Digby’s book contain?

7. Where was the first swimming association found?

8. Who was the first one to swim the English Channel?

9. What was built in castle Linderhof?

10. What swimming events were contested in the first Olympic Games after their reopening?

11. What was the reason for inventing a two pieces swimsuit?

12. What are the functions of FINA?

VII. Tell your groupmates everything you can about…

· “The Cave of Swimmers”;

· Ancient written references to swimming;

· Swimming as an agility of knights;

· Prohibition of swimming;

· Books about swimming;

· Swimming aids;

· Swimming pool;

· The swimming Olympic history;

· The World Swimming Association.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-03