The Olympic Games

The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words: Citius – Altius – Fortius (Faster – Higher – Stronger). These three words encourage the athletes to give their best during competition.

The motto gives the idea of excellence by encouraging athletes to strive to do their best.

The flame symbolizes the friendship between peoples - the torch relay usually travels through different countries in the world.

The rings represent respect. They bring all nations and all five continents together without discrimination.

What makes the Olympic Games different from other sports events?

The Games are held every four years. They are the largest sporting celebration in terms of the number of sports on the programme, the number of athletes present and the number of people from different nations gathered together at the same time in the same place.

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Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer.

1. What do the five rings on the Olympic flag represent?
   a) Five Olympic sports
   b) Five famous athletes
   c) Five continents
   d) Five Olympic Games
   
   

2. What is the background color of the Olympic flag?
   a) Blue
   b) White
   c) Black
   d) Red
   
   

3. What language is the Olympic motto originally written in?
   a) English
   b) Greek
   c) French
   d) Latin
   
   

4. How often are the Olympic Games held?
   a) Every year
   b) Every two years
   c) Every three years
   d) Every four years

Exercise 2: Answer the questions.

1. What do the six colors of the Olympic flag represent?

2. What is the Olympic motto, and what does it encourage athletes to do?

3. What does the Olympic flame symbolize?

4. Why are the Olympic Games considered different from other sports events?

Exercise 3: True or False

1. The Olympic rings appear on a black background.

2. The Olympic motto encourages athletes to strive for excellence.

3. The torch relay usually travels through only one country.

4. The Olympic Games bring together people from many nations at the same time and place.

Ancient  vs. Modern Games

Although the modern Olympic Games were inspired by the past, they are also quite different:

In contrast with the Olympic Games of the past, each edition of the modern Games takes place in a different city and country.

In ancient times, the Games were held first on one day, and finally over five days. Today, the official duration is no more than 16 days.

The ancient Olympic Games were only for Greek citizens. Modern Games are open to all.

Like the ancient Games, the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 were for men only. When women made their Olympic debut four years later at the 1900 Games in Paris (France), only two sports were open to them: tennis and golf.

When Coubertin revived the Olympic Games, only summer sports were included. In the 1920s, however, snow and ice sports began to enjoy popularity. The IOC members decided to react to this new phenomenon. In 1924, it was decided to hold an International Winter Sports Week in Chamonix (France): 258 athletes from 16 countries (mainly in Europe and North America) attended.

The week was a great success, and, two years later, it was named the first Olympic Winter Games. At the Winter Games in Turin (Italy) in 2006, a total of 2,508 participants came together from 80 countries as diverse as Madagascar, Brazil, New Zealand, and Thailand!

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Athletics consists of a wide range of events: jumping, throwing, and sprint, middle-distance and long-distance races. Some of these were performed at the ancient Olympic Games: foot races (varying distances), the javelin throw, the discus throw, and the long jump.

The first swimming competitions at the modern Games took place in the sea or in a river. Today competitions take place in a 50m swimming pool, usually indoors. The current program includes the following events: swimming (freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly), water polo, diving and artistic swimming.

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Skating has the longest Olympic history. It appeared in the program of the London Games in 1908. Women made their debut in figure skating at the Olympic Winter Games, but speed skating was not open to them until 1960. Held in the open air until 1956, the skating events now take place indoors.

Skiing is the sport with the largest number of disciplines. Cross-country skiing is the oldest discipline and snowboarding is the newest one (1998 Games in Nagano, Japan). Alpine skiing appeared relatively late: it was on the program of the 1936 Games, but it was not until the 1948 Games in St Moritz (Switzerland) that a more complete program for men and women was organized. In 1952, giant slalom was added to the program. Introduced in 1988, the super-G is the newest Olympic Alpine skiing event.

Ice hockey, like skating and skiing, is one of the sports that helped to launch the Olympic Winter Games. Hockey is very popular and attracts large audiences. It is a spectacular sport in which the puck travels at speeds up to 180km/h.

Online Vocabulary 

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer.

1. Which two sports are the star attractions of the Summer Olympic Games?
   a) Gymnastics and cycling
   b) Athletics and swimming
   c) Football and tennis
   d) Basketball and volleyball
   
   

2. Where did the first modern Olympic swimming competitions take place?
   a) In indoor pools
   b) In lakes
   c) In the sea or a river
   d) In 50m outdoor pools
   
   

3. Which skating discipline was not open to women until 1960?
   a) Figure skating
   b) Speed skating
   c) Ice dancing
   d) Short track
   
   

4. Which skiing discipline is the newest Olympic event?
   a) Cross-country skiing
   b) Alpine skiing
   c) Giant slalom
   d) Super-G

Exercise 2: Answer the questions.

1. Why are athletics and swimming considered the most widely followed Olympic sports?

2. Name three events in athletics that were performed at the ancient Olympic Games.

3. What swimming-related events are included in the current Olympic program?

4. Why is ice hockey considered a spectacular sport?

Exercise 3: True or False

1. Athletics includes only running events.

2. Today, Olympic swimming competitions usually take place indoors.

3. Skating events were always held indoors at the Olympic Games.

4. Snowboarding was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1998.

The Opening Ceremony 

1.The entry of the athletes into the stadium with their delegations

2.The declaration of the opening of the Games by the Head of State of the host country

3.The address by the Games Organizing Committee President

4.The speech by the IOC President

5.The entry of the Olympic flag into the stadium

6.The Olympic anthem

7.The symbolic release of doves

8.The oath sworn by an athlete and an official from the host country

9.The entrance of the flame and lighting of the cauldron

The Closing Ceremony 

1. Handing over the Olympic flag to the next Olympic host city

2. Gathering of the athletes in the stadium

3. The extinguishing of the flame

4. The declaration of the closing of the Games by the IOC President

Criteria for being an Olympic Sport

In order to be included in the Olympic program, a summer sport must fulfill the following conditions:

– it must be widely practised (by men, in 75 countries on four continents; by women, in 40 countries, and on three continents);

– the World Anti-Doping Code must be applied;

– it must not rely on mechanical propulsion (such as a motor).

Today, a winter sport must be widely practised in at least 25 countries and on three continents in order to be included in the program. No distinction is made between men's and women’s events.

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