The Olympic Games are the greatest international sports games in the world. They're held once every four years in one of the member countries of the Internatio­nal Olympic Committee (IOC).

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Games are the greatest international sports games in the world. They're held once every four years in one of the member countries of the Internatio­nal Olympic Committee (IOC).

The ancient Olympics began in Olympia, Greece. The decree of that time was that there should be no wars during the Olympiad. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. Since that time they were held every four years and continued for nearly twelve centuries.

At first the Olympics lasted only five days and the competition was only in running. The Olympic pro­gramme grew as the games developed and a lot of sports events were added: long-distance racing, wrest ling, the pentathlon, horse-back racing, etc.

The only prize for each contest was a garland of wild olive. The successful athlete, however, received other reward s. His friends and admirer s showered him with flowers and costly gifts. His name was recorded in the Greek calendar. Poets sang his praises and sculptors carved his statue.

An Olympian prize was regarded as the crown of human happiness. When the successful athletes retur­ned home the wall to their city was broken in order to let them enter. So, they did not enter through the gate. The motto was "With such defenders we need no wall". The ancient Greek Olympic Games were for men only. Women, foreigners and slaves were forbidden to compete.

When the Greeks lost their authority and became dependent on Rome the games almost stopped existing. They lasted till 394 A.D., when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I abolished them on the grounds that they were of pagan origin. Theodosius dismantled the Temp­le of Zeus and destroyed Olympia.

It was only in 1896 that the Olympic Games were restored on the initiative of a French teacher Pierre de Cuberten. The first International Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece. His words "It's a great honour to win, but still a greater honour to compete" became an Olympic motto. Only a dozen countries took part then (285 competitors), but it was a start and a good one. It was not until the Fourth Olympics in Lon­don, in 1908 that women were allowed to compete for the first time. The Winter Olympics have been held since 1924. At first Scandinavians dominated in all kinds of Winter Sports, that's why the Flag of Norway was considered to be the flag of the Winter Games. At present the Olympic flag has a white background with five rings in the middle, in turquoise, yellow, black, green and red. No Olympic Games can start without the Olympic Flame, the symbol of the spirit of friendly competition, which comes from the classic temple of Olympia, Greece.

Pierre de Cuberten died in 1936 and was buried ac­cording to his wish in ancient Olympia. Thus ancient Greece is the homeland of the Olympic Games which have now become a sports event of world importance.

Vocabulary

held (дієслово мин.часу від to hold) – проводити decree – директива, постанова BC (before Christ) – до різдва Христова to last – тривати competition – змагання running – бігання, біганина horse-back racing – кінний спорт garland – венок contest – змагання reward – нагорода admirer – палкий прихильник

shower – засипати, закидати praise – хвала; вихваляння; прославляння to carve – гравірувати; витісувати, висікати (з каменю) motto – девіз to compete – змагатись AD – н.е., нашої ери; від Різдва Христова pagan – язичник to dismantle – руйнувати, зносити to restore – відновлювати(ся), повертати назад, відроджувати (традиції тощо) turquoise – бірюзовий колір

Дата добавления: 2015-11-05