Read the text and do the exercises.The
Olympic Games The Olympic Games have a very long history. They
began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries.
They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All
the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olimpia to compete in the Games.
For the period of the Games all the wars stopped. So the Olympic Games became the
symbol of peace and friendship.
In 394 AD the Games were abolished and were not
renewed until many centuries later.
In 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierrede addressed
all the sports governing bodies and pointed out the significance of sports and its
educational value.
Two years later the first modern Olympic Games
took place. Of course, the competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation
of the old tradition.
Summer and Winter Games are held separately.
There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is
selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts
preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels,
press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games,
and it takes great efforts to arrange everything. There is always an interesting
cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, etc., for each Games.
Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since
then it has won a lot of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted
the Twenty-Second Olympic Games.