The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have a very 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, etc. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olympia to compete in the Games. For the period of the Games all the wars stopped. So the Olympic Games became the symbol of peace and friendship.

In 394 AD the Games were abolished and were not renewed until many centuries later.

In 1896 the first modern Olympic Games took place. The competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition. In the same year the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.

Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted the Twenty-Second Olympic Games. In 2008 Russian city Sochy has been chosen to host the winter Olympic Games of 2014.

Names:

Olympia [əu`limpiə] – Олимпия

the International Olympic Committee [kə'miti] – Международный олимпийский комитет

Vocabulary:

athlete [`æθlit] – атлет

AD – нашей эры (сокр. от лат. Anno Domini)

ВС – до нашей эры (сокр. от лат. Before Christ [kraist])

city-host [,siti'həust] – город-хозяин (Олимпийских игр)

continuation [kən,tinju`ei∫n] – продолжение, возобновление

competition [,kəmpi`ti∫n] – соревнование

guest [gest] – гость

journalist [`d3ə:nəlist] – журналист

to take place – случаться, зд.: проходить, проводиться

to compete [kəm`pi:t] – соревноваться

to abolish [a'boli∫] – отменять, упразднять, to be abolished – быть отменённым

to renew [ri'nju:] – возобновлять, to be renewed – быть возобновлённым

governing [`gΛvəniŋ] – административный, руководящий

it takes great efforts – нужны большие усилия

Olympic movement [`mu:vmənt] – олимпийское движение

participant [pa:`tisipənt] – участник

policy-making body – орган, определяющий политику, цели (олимпийского движения)

preparation – приготовление

representative [,repri'zentativ] – представитель

record ['reko:d] – зд.: рекорд

separately ['sep(ə)rətli] – отдельно

significance [sig'nifikəns] – значимость, важность

sports facilities – спортивные сооружения

sports event – спортивное событие, соревнование

suitable ['sju:təbl] – подходящий, соответствующий

to arrange [ə'reinds] – устраивать, организовывать

to address [ə`dres] – обращаться

to be held – проводиться

to host [həust] – принимать гостей, быть хозяином

to point out – указывать (на), выделять

to symbolyze ['simbəlaiz] – символизировать

to set up – организовать, создать

to select – отбирать, выбирать

value ['vælju:] – зд.: ценность, важность, значение

Language practice

Practise the dialogue and then make up your own dialogues, discussing your favourite sports activities.

John: Hi, Mike! Where are you going?

Mike: Hello, John! I’m going to a football match. I’ve hardly got the tickets for me and my brother.

John: Was it so hard to get the tickets?

Mike: Of course! I’m lucky that I’ve got two. "Spartak" and "Dinamo" are playing. And what about you? Are you going?

John: No, actually I’m not fond of football. I like tennis more.

Mike: Do you go in for tennis?

John: I’ve been playing tennis since I was 6 years old. But now I’m a first-year cadet and have less time for it, because we have a strict daily routine.

Mike: Do the cadets have any Physical Training (PT) activities?

John: Of course, PT activities are organized every day. Sport helps the cadets to become skilled and well-trained officers of the Russian Armed Forces.

Mike: I see. But still (и всё-таки), why do you like tennis?

John: I think it is a very interesting sports game which improves your shape and trains your mind. Besides it is a good and pleasant way to get rid of stress or bad mood.

Mike: Ok, but as for me, there is nothing better than football. And now I have to go, the match is starting in half an hour! See you later!

John: See you! Bye!