M any people all over the world are interested in sport. Sport helps people to stay healthy and makes them more organized and better disciplined in their daily activities.

They have always paid great attention to sport in our schools, colleges and universities. You can hardly find a school without a gym or a sportsground. Every city and town has a few stadiums or swimming pools, where local or even international competitions are usually held. Traditionally, sport could be divided into professional and amateur sport.

Former Soviet Union and later Ukrainian and Russian sportsmen have set a great number of world records in gymnastics, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, running, high jumping, etc. Our sportsmen also participate in the Olympic Games and always win gold, silver and bronze medals.

The Olympic Games have a long history. They started in 776 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries at Olympia. They included many different kinds of sports. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olympia to compete in the Games. When the Games took place, all the wars stopped. So, the Olympic Games became the symbol of peace and friendship.

Now, there are Summer and Winter Olympic Games. They are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The International Committee of Olympic Games selects the most suitable. After that, the host city starts its preparations for the competitions, constructs new sport facilities, or reconstructs them, reconstructs stadiums, hotels, press centres, etc. Thousand of athletes, journalists and guests arrive to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. In 1980, Moscow hosted the twenty-second Olympic Games. The latest. Olympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia. Our sportsmen won medals in many sports. Next Olympic Games take place in Greece, the Motherland of these games.

Translation

Sports and the Olympics

Many people all over the world are interested in sports. Sport helps people stay healthy and makes them more organized, better disciplined in their daily work.

In our schools, colleges and universities, sports have always been given great attention. You will hardly find a school where there is no physical education or sports fields. Each city and town has several stadiums or swimming pools, where local or even international competitions. Traditionally, sports are divided into professional and amateur.

Athletes of the Soviet Union, and later Ukrainian and Russian athletes, set many world records in gymnastics, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, running, high jump, etc. Our athletes participate in the Olympic Games and always win gold, silver and bronze medals.

The Olympic Games have a long history. They began in 776 BC. in Greece and were held at Olympia: every four years for almost twelve centuries. They included many different sports. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olympia to compete in the Olympics. During the Olympic Games, all wars stopped. In this way, Olympic Games became a symbol of peace and friendship.

Now the Olympic Games are divided into Summer and Winter Olympic Games. They are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee chooses the most suitable city. After that, the city in which the Games will be held begins its preparations for the competition - they build new athletic facilities, restore stadiums, hotels, press centers, etc. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games and it takes a lot of work to make everyone happy.

Russia joined the Olympic Movement in 1952. In 1980, Moscow hosted the twenty-second Olympic Games. The last Olympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia. Our athletes have won medals in many sports competitions. The next Olympic Games will be held in Greece, the home of these games.

The Olympic Games (1)

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 1894 French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the sports governing bodies and pointed out the significance of sport and its educational value.

Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place. Of course, 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 formed by the representatives of all countries, which take part in the Olympic Games.

Summer and Winter Games are held separately.

Olympic Games (1)

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and were held every four years for about twelve centuries at Olympia. They included different types sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All the cities of Greece sent their best athletes to Olympia to compete in the games.

During the games, all wars ceased. Thus, the Olympic Games have become a symbol of peace and friendship. In 394 AD, the games were canceled and were not resumed for many centuries.

In 1894, the Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the governing sports bodies and pointed out the importance of sport and its educational value.

Two years later, the first modern Olympic Games were held. Of course, the competition was held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the age-old tradition.

In 1896 the International Olympic Committee. It is the main policy-making body Olympic Movement. It includes representatives of all countries participating in the Olympic Games.

Summer and winter Games are held separately.

Questions:

1. When and where did the Olympic Games begin?
2. Why did the Olympic Games become the symbol of peace and friendship?
3. When did the Games in Greece stop?
4. Who renewed the Olympic movement?
5. When and where did the first modern Games take place?
6. When was the International Olympic Committee set up? What is its function?
7. Are Summer and Winter Games held separately?
8. Where were the latest Olympic Games held?

Vocabulary:

BC \u003d Before Christ - before the birth of Christ, i.e. BC. e.
wrestling - wrestling
to compete - compete
AD = Anno Domini - in the year of the Lord, i.e. n. e.
to abolish - cancel, abolish
to hold - hold
to set up - organize, create
separately - separately

The Olympic Games are one of the most spectacular reminders of the debt we owe to the Greeks.

The original Olympic Games were held every four years in honor of Zeus, the supreme god of Greek religion. The first record of the games dates from 776 B.C., but it is certain that they existed prior to that. They were held continuously for over 1,000 years until they were abolished in the reign of King Theodosius about 392 A.D. The Olympic festival was a great unifying bond between the Independent city-states of Greece.

The important sports in the original Olympic Games were running, jumping, wrestling, throwing the discus and throwing the javelin. Only men competed and they wore no clothes in order to have greater freedom of movement. Each competitor had to take the Olympic Oath - a promise to behave in a sportsman-like fashion.

The modern Olympic era began in 1894 when Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin decided to revive the ancient Greek tradition of celebrating health, youth and peace with a sports festival. Baron de Coubertin created the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the first modem Olympiad took place in Athens in 1896. Since then the Olympic Games have been held every four years with only two exceptions because of the two world wars.

Even though the modern Olympic Games embrace the whole world, the connection with Greece is still very strong. A lighted torch is brought all the way from Greece, carried by a relay of runners, in order to light the Olympic Flame which bums all through the Games. As in ancient Greek times, the competitors still take the Olympic Oath. The long-distance race is still called the Marathon. Marathon was a village about 26 miles from Athens. In the year 490 BC the Greeks defeated a powerful Persian army at that spot. After the fierce day"s fighting a soldier volunteered to bring news of the victory to the anxious citizens of Athens. He ran all the way and after gasping out the message. "Rejoice, we conquer!" he collapsed and died.

One important rule of the Olympic Games is that the competitors must be amateurs. This rule has been under a lot of pressure in recent years because modem sport is so professional and competitive. Athletes train for years to take part in the Olympics and some countries spend much more than others on equipment and facilities. But despite these pressures, the amateur rule remains.

In modern times the Olympic movement has become an enormous and expensive organisation, It's controlled by the International Olympic Committee, which consists of members from all the participating countries. The IOC is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It chooses the locations of both summer and winter games (both take place once very four years, with winter games half a year before summer Olympiads). It also controls the rules of the competitions and selects new Olympic sports. The famous flag of the IOC shows five rings of different colors linked together.The rings represent the five continents.

The Olympic Games are known to us since the days of ancient Greece, whence came the expression - "in a healthy body - a healthy mind". The Greeks paid special attention to sports and loaded themselves with physical exertion in order to always be in good physical shape in case of military actions. Sports competitions, gladiator fights, chariot competitions began to take place in the Mount Olympus. Each participant demonstrated his dexterity, courage, strength, speed.

Later, with the advent of the Romans on the territory of Greece, the Olympic Games began to be held less and less, and at the beginning of the eighth century, the authorities declared them a pagan rite and banned.

In 1894, the International Congress of Sports decided new rules for the games and, in 1896, the Olympic Games began to be held again every four years. Later the International Olympic Committee was created which selected the city for each regular game. The goal of the Olympic Games was to give every athlete the opportunity to play for his country in fair competition.

The most famous symbol of the Olympic Games is the image of five interconnected rings. Rings represent the union of five continents.

In 1928, Amsterdam first lit the Olympic flame, as a symbol of the will to win. Since then, the fire is lit before the start of each game, and it burns to the very end.

The Olympic Games have been known to us since Ancient Greece This is where the phrase "a healthy mind in a healthy body" came from. The Greeks paid special attention to sports and loaded themselves physical activity in order to always be in good condition in case of hostilities physical form. On Mount Olympus, sports competitions, gladiator fights, and chariot competitions began to take place. Each participant demonstrated his dexterity, courage, strength, speed.

Later, with the advent of the Romans in Greece, the Olympic Games became less and less frequent, and at the beginning of the eighth century the authorities declared them a pagan rite and banned them.

In 1894, the International Sports Congress decided on new rules for the games, and since 1896 the Olympic Games began to be held again every four years. Later, the International Olympic Committee was created, which chose the city to host each regular game. The purpose of the Olympic Games was to give every athlete the opportunity to compete for their country in fair competition.

The most famous symbol of the Olympic Games is the image of five rings connected to each other. The rings represent the union of the five continents.

In 1928, in Amsterdam, it lit up for the first time. olympic fire, as a symbol of the will to win. Since then, the fire is lit before the start of each game, and it burns until the very end.

Level C. Classic essay

The Importance of the Olympic Games

People have been thinking about their health since the time immemorial. The main way to keep fit is going in for sports. That is why the Olympic Games, which have a long history, were organized. And this year, Russia is honored to host the winter Olympic Games. So how will they affect us and our country?
In my opinion, these Games will play a very important role in the history of the Russian Federation. First of all, we can show our hospitality, our traditions and our culture to people all over the world. I know that foreigners have some stereotypes about Russia, so these Games can break them. Secondly, it will be a great opportunity for our people to communicate and make more friends among guests from different countries. That will make our international relationships stronger.

But some people claim that holding Olympic Games is not a very good idea, because the country has to invest really a great deal of money to organize the ceremonies, build stadiums, hotels and Olympic Games objects and equipment for stadiums and athletic halls.

I strongly disagree with this opinion. I believe the more you give, the better results you will have. So this money will be worth it.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Russia is famous for its hospitality and “a wide soul”. I believe that this event will help us become one big family, enjoy all this time and support our country in these important competitions.

People began to think about their health from time immemorial. The main way to keep yourself in shape is playing sports. Therefore, the Olympic Games were organized, which have their own long history. This year, Russia is honored to host the Winter Olympic Games as a guest. So how will this affect us and our country?

In my opinion, these games will play a huge role in the story Russian Federation. First of all, we will be able to show our hospitality, our traditions and our culture to people from all over the world. I know that foreigners have some stereotypes about our country, so this event will help break them down. Secondly, it will be a wonderful opportunity for our people to communicate with people from different countries and make friends among foreigners. This will help our international relations become stronger.

But some people think that holding the Olympic Games is not a good idea, since the state should invest a huge amount of money in the organization. In the construction of stadiums, hotels and various Olympic facilities and equipment for stadiums and arenas.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Russia is known for its hospitality and "big heart". I believe that this event will help us become one, enjoy this time and support our team in this difficult competition.