VIII. Discussion point.

First read the following information:

The Olympics are having many problems. In Munich (1972), terrorists killed Israeli athletes. In Moscow (1980), the United States refused to participate. In Los Angeles (1984), the USSR and other Eastern European countries refused to participate. In Seoul (1988), Cuba and other countries refused to participate. In addition to political problems, the Olympics are having problems with professionalism, drug use, and too many sports.

Step A. Work in groups. You are members of the International Olympic Committee. Your job is to redesign the Olympic Games.

1. Instead of moving the Games from one city to another, discuss the possibility of having one permanent summer city and one permanent winter city. Work out the criteria for choosing the cities.

2. Every year the Olympics adds new sports. Now there are too many (over 237 events in 23 sports). Discuss the possibility of decreasing the number of sports to only 25 individual events (same for men and women) and three team sports (same for men and women). Work out the list of sports.

Step B. Discuss these questions with your group-mates.

1. Should professional athletes participate in the Olympics? Explain.

2. What do you think is the maximum number of athletes a country should have? (In Seoul [1988], the United States had 625 athletes; Brunei had one.)

3. Is it possible to separate sports from politics? If yes, how? If no, why?

4. Should athletes be permitted to use drugs (such as steroids)? Explain.

IX. Choose the correct answer.

1. Most _________ tennis stars learn the game at an early age.

a)hopeful b)prospective c)will-be d)willing

2. Mary tells me she is __________ my horse in the Derby.

a)backing b)betting c)gambling d)staking

3. I always feel ________ before the start of a race.

a)jerky b)jittery c)timid d)unsteady

4. All the athletes were wearing ________ suits when they came into the stadium.

a)jogging b)running c)sports d)track

5. The new sports centre _______ for all kinds of leisure activities.

a)caters b)deals c)furnishes d)supplies

6. I`m afraid we shall have to call ________ the match on account of the bad weather.

a)back b)in c)off d)on

7. I tried to _______ my disappointment at losing by cheering the winter loudly.

a)hide b)mask c)shield d)veil

8. The fastest runner took the _______ just five metres before the finishing line.

a)advance b)head c)lead d)place

9. There is a lot of friendly ________ between the supporters of the two teams.

a)contention b)contest c)defiance d)rivalry

10. He`s _________ to win. No one else in the race stands a chance.

a)bound b)liable c)probable d)unavoidable

X. Thinking ahead. Before reading the text discuss the following statements.

1. Athletes of the future will be taller and stronger than today`s athletes are.

2. In the future, drug-taking in sports will be legalized.

3. What athletes eat and drink before a race is more important than what they eat and drink after a race.

4. A good running shoe helps athletes run faster.

5. The most important factor in long jumping is the speed of the approach.