OLYMPIC GAMES

         The world’s greatest international sports games are known as the Olympic Games.

         The Olympic idea means friendship, fraternity and coo­peration among the people of the world. The Olympic Move­ment proves that real peace can be achieved through sport. The Olympic emblem is five interlinked rings: blue, yellow, black, green and red. Any national flag contains at least one of these colours.

         The original Olympic Games began in ancient Greece in 7 76 B.C. These games were part of a festival held every fourth year in honour of God Zeus at the place called Olympia. It was a great athletic festival, including competitions in wrestling, foot racing and chariot racing, rowing and others. The games were for men only. Greek women were forbidden not only to participate but also to watch the Olympics.

         The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Then they were resumed in London after the Second World War. Since then the Olympics are held every fourth year in different countries.

         The ancient Greeks had no winter sports. Only in 1924 the first Winter Olympic Games were held in France. Now they are being held regularly.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are the world’s greatest sports games?

2. What does the Olympic idea mean?

3. What is the Olympic emblem?

4. Why have these colours been chosen?

5. When and where did the original Olympic Games begin?

6. Did women participate in the games?

7. When were the first modern Olympic Games held? Where?

8. Are the Olympics held in the same place?

9. When did the Winter Olympic Games start being held? Where?

VOCABULARY:

peace — мир

fraternity — братство

contain(s) — содержать

ancient — древний

B.C. (before Christ) — до нашей эры

Zeus — Зевс

to participate — участвовать

to resume — возобновлять