Sport and the Olympics
People play sport and games for fun, to keep fit, because they want to win, or as part of a festival. There are hundreds of different sports. Many need fitness and great skill. Some games and sports, like cycling, are done by just one person. Others, such as cricket and soccer, are played in teams, where everyone has to work together to succeed. Sports and games can be very good for you. Playing a sport helps to keep you fit and healthy. Team sports can be great fun, too.
Today the Olympics are the world’s main sporting event. The Games take place every four years, in different cities around the world. The first Olympics were held in the town of Olympia, in Greece. They were started by King Iphitus in 776 BC. At this time the Games were a local religious festival to celebrate the Greek gods. For the first 70 years, there was just one running race of about 180 metres. As time went on, the festival became larger and more important. Longer races and other sports were added.
At their most popular, during the 4th century BC, the Olympics attracted people from places as far away as Libya and Egypt. Poets and other writers came, as well as those who wanted to buy and sell horses.
The Olympics continued in a new form under the Romans, who replaced the traditional games with their own sports and competitions. Slaves replaced free-born Greeks as the competitors. In AD 394, the last Olympics were held. But the Games had lasted more than a thousand years and returned again in the 19th century, when the first modern Olympics were held.
(6) People play sport a) to go to the Olympics. b) because they like cricket, soccer and cycling. c) for fun, to win and to keep fit.
(7) The first Olympics were a) a religious festival. b) an international sporting event. c) a celebration for King Iphitus.
(8) In the early years a) there were just a few sporting events. b) there was only one sporting event. c) the sporting events were more important than the religious celebrations.
(9) In the 4th century BC a) Libya and Egypt had their own festival and games. b) the Games were extremely popular and famous. c) there were poetry competitions at the games.
(10) The Romans a) changed the events at the games and used slaves as competitors. b) travelled to Greece every year for the Games. c) started their own Games in AD 394.
Writing
Write an opinion composition about ONE of the topics below. You should write about 120 words.
1 Global warming is the biggest problem in the world today. Do you agree? 2 The internet is the greatest invention of the past 100 years. Do you agree? 3 It is wrong for women to put their careers before their families. Do you agree?
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