Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
The Olympic Games

The Olympics have a very long history. They began in 776 BBC, and took place for nearly 1200 years at Olympia, Greece. The citizens of all the Greek states were invited to take part in the games. The prizes were wreaths made of branches of olive trees. Ancient Olympic Games were a great athletic festival and included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, discus throwing, wrestling, the pentathlon (five different sports) and others. In 394 A.D. the games were stopped by the Roman Emperor Theodosius.

Only fifteen years later, in 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, managed to persuade people from fifteen countries to start the Olympic Games again. The International Olympic Committee was set up in 1894, and the first of the modern series of the Games took place in Athens two years later, in 1896. There were competitions in many kinds of sports: running, jumping, boxing. All the nations of the world were invited to send their athletic teams. From then on the Olympic Games have been international and the number of events on the programme have increased.

In these games only amateurs, or non-professional athletes can take part. Each country sends teams for as many different events as possible. The winners of each event are given a certain number of points. The International Olympic Committee decides where each Olympics will take place. They ask a city (not a country) to be the host.

The Olympic games are attended by thousands and thousands of people every time they are held. They provide an opportunity for lovers of sports of all nations to meet together.

Topical Vocabulary

- the Olympic Games (the Olympics)
Олимпийские игры
to have a long history
иметь большую историю
to take place
проходить
to take part in smth.
принимать участие в чем-либо
a prize
приз
a wreath
венок
ancient
древний
a great athletic festival
большой спортивный праздник
to include different kinds of sports
включать различные виды спорта
running
бег
boxing
бокс
discus throwing
метание диска
wrestling
борьба
the pentathlon
пятиборье
- the International Olympic Committee
Международный олимпийский комитет
to set up (smth.)
организовывать (что-либо)
a competition
соревнование
jumping
прыжки
an athletic team
спортивная команда
an event on the programme
состязания, включенные в программу
- an amateur
любитель
an athlete
спортсмен
the winner
победитель
- to be attended by smbd.
посещаться кем-либо
a lover of sports
любитель спорта

Answer the questions:

  1. How often and where did the ancient Olympic Games take place?
  2. What kinds of sports did they include?
  3. How did the modern Olympic Games begin?
  4. What athletes can take part in the modern Olympic Games?
  5. What are the winners in each event given?
  6. Why are the Olympic Games so important?

Translate into English:

  1. В течение 1200 лет Олимпийские игры проводились в Олимпии каждые четыре года.
  2. Победителям в метании диска, борьбе, пятиборье и других видах спорта вручались венки из веток оливы.
  3. В 1894 году барон Пьер де Кубертен основал Международный олимпийский комитет.
  4. В первых современных Олимпийский играх более 2000 участников состязались в различных видах спорта.
  5. В Олимпийских играх участвуют только спортсмены-любители.
  6. Количество состязаний в современных Олимпийских играх увеличилось.
  7. Команда каждой страны состоит из спортсменов, принимающих участие в соревнованиях по различным видам спорта.
  8. Международный олимпийский комитет обращается с просьбой выбранному им городу стать хозяином Олимпиады.
  9. На соревнования Олимпиады приходят тысячи людей.