Olympic Games

The world"s greatest international sports games are known as the Olympic Games.

The Olympic idea means friendship, fraternity and cooperation among the people of the world. The Olympic Movement proves that real peace can be achieved through sport.

The Olympic emblem is five interlinked rings: blue, yellow, black, green and red. Any national flag contains at least one of these colours.

The original Olympic Games began in ancient Greece in 776 B.C. These games were part of a festival held every fourth year in honour of God Zeus at the place called Olympia. It was a great athletic festival, including competitions in wrestling, foot racing and chariot racing, rowing and others.

The games were for men only. Greek women were forbidden not only to participate but also to watch the Olympics.

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Then they were resumed in London after the Second World War. Since then the Olympics are held every fourth year in different countries.

The ancient Greeks had no winter sports. Only in 1924 the first Winter Olympic Games were held in France. Now they are being held regularly.

Олимпийские игры

Самые известные в мире спортивные игры - Олимпийские.

Идея игр - дружба, братство и согласие народов мира. Олимпийское движение доказывает, что мир может быть достигнут благодаря спорту.

Олимпийская эмблема - пять переплетенных колец: голубое, желтое, черное, зеленое и красное. Флаг любой страны имеет хотя бы один из этих цветов.

В первый раз Олимпийские игры были проведены в Древней Греции в 776 году до н. э. Они были частью фестиваля, проводящегося каждый четвертый год в честь бога Зевса в Олимпии. Это был грандиозный спортивный праздник, включавший в себя соревнования по борьбе, бегу, езде на колесницах, гребле и др.

К играм допускались только мужчины, женщинам запрещалось не только участвовать, но и наблюдать.

Первые современные Олимпийские игры были проведены в 1896 в Афинах. Потом они были возобновлены в Лондоне после Второй мировой войны. С того времени Олимпийские игры проводятся каждый четвертый год в различных странах.

У древних греков не было зимних видов спорта. Только в 1924 году во Франции состоялись первые Зимние Олимпийские игры. Сейчас они проводятся регулярно.

Questions:

1. What are the world"s greatest sports games?
2. What does the Olympic idea mean?
3. What is the Olympic emblem?
4. Why have these colours been chosen?
5. When and where did the original Olympic Games begin?
6. Did women participate in the games?
7. When were the first modern Olympic Games held? Where?
8. Are the Olympics held in the same place?
9. When did the Winter Olympic Games start being held? Where?

Vocabulary:

peace - мир
fraternity - братство
contain(s) - содержать
ancient - древний
B.C. (before Christ) - до нашей эры
Zeus - Зевс
to participate - участвовать
to resume - возобновлять

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 long history. They started in 776 ВС 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.

Перевод

Спорт и Олимпийские игры

M ногие люди во всем мире интересуются спортом. Спорт помогает людям оставаться здоровыми и делает их более организованными, лучше дисциплинированными в их повседневной работе.

В наших школах, колледжах и университетах спорту всегда уделяли большое внимание. Вы едва найдете школу, где нет физкультуры или спортивных площадок. Каждый город и городок имеет несколько стадионов или плавательных бассейнов, где обычно проводятся местные или даже международные соревнования. Традиционно спорт делится на профессиональный и любительский.

Спортсмены Советского Союза, а позднее украинские и российские спортсмены установили много мировых рекордов в гимнастике, тяжелой атлетике, теннисе, плавании, беге, прыжках в высоту и т. д. Наши спортсмены участвуют в Олимпийских играх и всегда выигрывают золотые, серебряные и бронзовые медали.

У Олимпийских игр длинная история. Они начались в 776 году до н.э. в Греции и проводились в Олимпии:каждые четыре года в течение почти двенадцати столетий. Они включали в себя много различных спортивных состязаний. Все города Греции посылали своих лучших атлетов в Олимпию, чтобы соревноваться на Олимпийских играх. Во время Олимпийских игр все войны прекращались. Таким образом, Олимпийские игры стали символом мира и дружбы.

Теперь Олимпийские игры делятся на Летние и Зимние Олимпийские игры. Они проводятся отдельно. Всегда есть несколько городов, желающих стать хозяевами проведения Олимпийских игр. Международный Олимпийский комитет выбирает самый подходящий город. После этого город, в котором будут проводиться Игры, начинает свои приготовления к соревнованиям - строят новые спортивные сооружения, восстанавливают стадионы, гостиницы, пресс-центры и т. д. Тысячи атлетов, журналистов и гостей приезжают на Игры и нужно много потрудиться, чтобы всех устроить.

Россия присоединилась к Олимпийскому движению в 1952 году. В 1980 Москва принимала гостей на двадцать вторых Олимпийских играх. Последние Олимпийские игры прошли в Сиднее, Австралия. Наши спортсмены выиграли медали во многих спортивных состязаниях. Следующие Олимпийские игры пройдут в Греции, на родине этих игр.

Olympic Games

The world"s greatest international sports games are known as the Olympic Games.

The Olympic idea means friendship, fraternity and cooperation among the people of the world. The Olympic Movement proves that real peace can be achieved through sport.

The Olympic emblem is five interlinked rings: blue, yellow, black, green and red. Any national flag contains at least one of these colours.

The original Olympic Games began in ancient Greece in 776 B.C. These games were part of a festival held every fourth year in honour of God Zeus at the place called Olympia. It was a great athletic festival, including competitions in wrestling, foot racing and chariot racing, rowing and others.

The games were for men only. Greek women were forbidden not only to participate but also to watch the Olympics.

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Then they were resumed in London after the Second World War. Since then the Olympics are held every fourth year in different countries.

The ancient Greeks had no winter sports. Only in 1924 the first Winter Olympic Games were held in France. Now they are being held regularly.

Олимпийские игры

Самые известные в мире спортивные игры - Олимпийские.

Идея игр - дружба, братство и согласие народов мира. Олимпийское движение доказывает, что мир может быть достигнут благодаря спорту.

Олимпийская эмблема - пять переплетенных колец: голубое, желтое, черное, зеленое и красное. Флаг любой страны имеет хотя бы один из этих цветов.

В первый раз Олимпийские игры были проведены в Древней Греции в 776 году до н. э. Они были частью фестиваля, проводящегося каждый четвертый год в честь бога Зевса в Олимпии. Это был грандиозный спортивный праздник, включавший в себя соревнования по борьбе, бегу, езде на колесницах, гребле и др.

К играм допускались только мужчины, женщинам запрещалось не только участвовать, но и наблюдать.

Первые современные Олимпийские игры были проведены в 1896 в Афинах. Потом они были возобновлены в Лондоне после Второй мировой войны. С того времени Олимпийские игры проводятся каждый четвертый год в различных странах.

У древних греков не было зимних видов спорта. Только в 1924 году во Франции состоялись первые Зимние Олимпийские игры. Сейчас они проводятся регулярно.

Questions:

1. What are the world"s greatest sports games?
2. What does the Olympic idea mean?
3. What is the Olympic emblem?
4. Why have these colours been chosen?
5. When and where did the original Olympic Games begin?
6. Did women participate in the games?
7. When were the first modern Olympic Games held? Where?
8. Are the Olympics held in the same place?
9. When did the Winter Olympic Games start being held? Where?

Vocabulary:

peace - мир
fraternity - братство
contain(s) - содержать
ancient - древний
B.C. (before Christ) - до нашей эры
Zeus - Зевс
to participate - участвовать
to resume - возобновлять

The Olympic Games are an international sports competition which are held every four years in a different city. Thousands of athletes from all over the world compete against each other in individual and team sports. Over 1 billion people watch the games on TV.

The first Olympic Games were held in Greece in 776 B.C. They were called the ancient games and lasted until the 4th century A.D. The modern games began in 1896, when the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin revived the games to bring peace and friendship to the young people all over the world.

Today, there are summer and winter games. Up to 1994 both games were held in the same year, but now they are staged two years apart from each other.

Ceremonies and symbols

The Olympic Games begin with the opening ceremony. Athletes from all the participating nations march into the stadium. Greece comes in first, because it was the first nation to hold the Olympics and the host nation comes in last.

The Olympic flag is raised and a chosen athlete lights the Olympic flame. It is a symbol of spirit, knowledge and life. The fire comes from Olympia, a small town in Greece and many runners transport the flame in a torch relay to the site of the games. It burns from the opening ceremony until the end of the games.

The Olympic rings were created in 1913 and represent the five continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas).

All athletes must take the Olympic oath. One of them has to promise that all athletes will give their best and compete in a fair way.

After each event, medals are given to the first three athletes. They receive gold, silver and bronze medals. Their flags are raised and the national anthem of the winner"s country is played.

The International Olympic Committee

The IOC is the organisation that governs the games. It decides which sports and events are held at the games. The IOC also selects the host city for the summer and winter games, at least seven years before they take place. Cities that want the games must show that

They have enough stadiums for all events
they have enough room for all the athletes
they can provide safety for the athletes
they can transport athletes and spectators from one event to another

Host cities must build an Olympic village where all athletes live during the games.

How can athletes take part?

Normally, each country decides for itself which sportsmen and –women are allowed to take part. Athletes must qualify for the games by winning or doing well in competitions before the Olympic Games start.

Athletes, who are sent to the games by their country must be a citizen of that country. For years, only amateurs were able to participate in the games, but today, most athletes are professionals, who earn their money through sport.

Most governments give their team money so that it can take part in the games.

The ancient Games

The ancient Olympic Games were celebrated at Olympia, Greece every four years. They were held in honour of the god Zeus. In the early games, only Greek men were allowed to participate. The games consisted of sports like footraces, wrestling, boxing, the pentathlon and horse racing. The last event of the games was usually a chariot race.

When the Romans conquered Greece in 140 B.C. the games started to lose their religious meaning and in 393 the Roman emperor banned the event.

The Summer Games

The Summer Games are held during the summer season of the host country. They last for 16 days. Today, there are more than 270 events during the games. Over 15,000 athletes from 190 nations take part.

The next Summer Games will be held in London (2012).

The Winter Games

The first separate Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924. They usually take place in February. Today, the Winter Olympics include over 60 events. Athletes from more than 60 countries participate.

Politics and the Olympic Games

In the past, the Olympic Games have been disturbed by political issues. In 1936 the IOC chose Berlin as the site for the 1936 Summer Games. A few years later, Adolf Hitler"s Nazi Party rose to power and Hitler used the games to show Germany"s power.

In 1968 two Black American runners protested against their government and raised their fists when the American national anthem was played.

In 1980 the USA-and many other countries-didn"t send athletes to the games in Moscow because the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan a year before. In return, the Russians and other Communist countries refused to take part in the 1984 games in Los Angeles.

The worst day in Olympic history came on September 5th, 1972 during the Munich games. Eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic village and killed two Israeli athletes. 9 others were taken hostage. They wanted the Israeli government to set free over 400 Arab prisoners in Israel. During a battle with German policemen all hostages and the terrorists were killed.

Olympia today

The Olympic Games have become very successful over the past years. More and more people are able to watch them on TV and television stations are spending more money for the rights to broadcast the games. The IOC earns more money than ever before. With this money they help athletes in poorer countries.

Drugs have become a big problem. Some athletes take drugs before and during the games in order to help their muscles grow. When they are caught they are disqualified and their medals are taken away from them.

Уровень С. Классическое эссе

The Importance of the Olympic Games

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 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.

Люди начали задумываться о своем здоровье с незапамятных лет. Основной путь поддержания себя в форме – это занятия спортом. Поэтому были организованы Олимпийские Игры, которые имеют свою длинную историю. В этом году, Россия удостоена чести принимать Зимние Олимпийские Игры у себя в гостях. Так как это повлияет на нас и нашу страну?

По моему мнению, эти игры сыграют огромную роль в истории Российской Федерации. В первую очередь, мы сможем показать нашу гостеприимность, наши традиции и нашу культуру людям со всего мира. Я знаю, что иностранцы имеют некоторые стереотипы о нашей стране, так что это событие поможет их разрушить. Во-вторых, это будет замечательной возможностью для нашего народа пообщаться с людьми из разных стран и завести себе друзей среди иностранцев. Это поможет нашим международным отношениям стать сильнее.

Но некоторые считают, что проведение Олимпийских игр не очень хорошая идея, так как государству следует вкладывать огромное количество денег в организацию. В строительство стадионов, гостиниц и различных Олимпийских объектов и оборудование для стадионов и манежей.

В заключение я бы хотела сказать, что Россия известна своей гостеприимность и «широкой душой». Я верю, что это событие поможет нам стать одним целым, насладиться этим временем и поддержать нашу сборную в этом сложном соревновании.