Lesson Objectives

• Read a variety of suitable print and digital texts to investigate and analyse global issues

• Use independently a range of familiar print and digital resources and some unfamiliar resources to check meaning and extend understanding

That’s a lot of money, but there are even wealthier sports stars than Ronaldo. The top-earning athlete for 2012-2013 was golfer Tiger Woods. It is estimated that Woods earned $78.1m (€59m) from prize money, sponsorships, appearance fees and a successful golf video game. Golfers and tennis players such as Novak Djokovic, earn prize money when they win tournaments, and first prize is usually huge. Tiger Woods’ prize money for 2012-2013 came to $13.1m (€10m). Unlike Ronaldo, Woods earned even more when he wasn’t playing. Nike, one of Woods’ many sponsors, currently pay him more than $20m annually to promote their brand. That’s a huge amount of money, but only a drop in the ocean for Nike, which makes $25 billion in sales a year.

There is no doubt that Ronaldo and Woods are talented athletes, but is an athlete worth more than a doctor, teacher or social worker, for example? Some people argue that the top players should earn high salaries because they train hard to become the best in their sport. On the other hand, various other professions help to make our world a better place. Teachers educate young people and their work produces the citizens of tomorrow. Social workers help people who are facing difficult challenges in life. The President of the USA makes decisions that affect not only his own country, but the whole world. These people earn far less than the average professional athlete, despite their important contributions.

Basically, athletes, like actors and singers, provide entertainment. Based on how much money these people make, it seems that we value entertainers more than professionals that actually help people. And although an athlete’s job is physically demanding, athletes do not play as important a role in our societies as their salaries indicate. We need to reconsider what is truly important and get rid of the huge differences in income earned by different professionals. If we can do that, we can create societies where everyone feels valued and appreciated for what they do.

appearance fee - prize money - salary - sponsorship deal - transfer fee

1 : __________ money that is paid to the runners up and winners of sports events

2 : __________ money that is paid by one team to another team for a professional player

3 : __________ payment for wearing a company’s clothing and using their equipment, or wearing their logo on clothing

4 : _________ money that is paid to an athlete to take part in an event and make it more popular

5 : _________ payment for playing regularly in a team such as a football or basketball team