Text 6D. The International Olympic Committee
1. Where is the International Olympic Committee located?
Baron Pierre de Coubertin said that the headquarters of the IOC must be in a neutral country. So, since 1915 it has been located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. What is the IOC?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the governing body of the Olympic Games. The Committee approves the sports to be included in the Olympicprogramme. The IOC also selects the host cities, one for the Summer Games and one for the Winter Games, six years in advance. The selection process includes a presentation by the Mayor of each city that wishes to host the Games.
3. Who plans the Games?
The Organizing Committee of the host city, the IOC and various international sports federations work together on planning the events within each sport, the maximum number of athletes allowed to enter, and the schedule of events. The host city has six years to prepare everything necessary for holding competitions in every event on the Olympic programme including venues, transport infrastructure, housing, catering, etc.1The international sports organizations conduct each event and appoint the judges and refereesand host country’s sports federations provide any assistancenecessary for it.
4. How are new members of the IOC elected?
New members of the IOC are elected by the current members. A representative may be elected from any nation that has a national Olympic committee, but only nations that have hosted the Olympics may have two representatives. The IOC has no set rules regarding which eligible nations shall be represented. As a result, the size of the Committee varies as members die or retire and new members are chosen. In 1991, the Committee had 94 members. Originally, members were elected to the IOC for life. Today, any member elected after 1965 must retire at the age of 76. The members of the Committee accept no instructions on voting from any government or other group or individual.
5. Who does the IOC executive board consist of?
The IOC meets annually and during the Summer and Winter Games. Between the meetings, its executive board handles the Committee’s business. This board consists of the President, four Vice-Presidents, and six members who serve four-year terms. The Committee elects these officials from among its members. The President serves an eight-year term2 and then may be reelected to any number of four-year terms.
Notes:
1 venues, transport infrastructure, housing, catering, etc. – спортивныесооружения, транспортнаяинфраструктура, жилье, питаниеит.д.
2 The President serves an eight-year term. – Президентизбираетсянавосемьлет.
Post-reading tasks
Task 1. Find a key sentence in each paragraph.
Task 2. Entitle each paragraph.
Task 3. Write the summary of the text following the outline:
– the responsibilities of the IOC;
– the members of the IOC;
– the election of the IOC members.
Task 4. Write a story about famous athletes from your country.
Task 5. Look though Texts A, B, C, D again write down the answers to the following questions to form the topic “Olympic Games”.
1. When and where did the ancient Olympic Games originate?
2. How often were the ancient Olympic Games held?
3. What kind of contests did they include?
4. Why were the ancient Olympic Games banned?
5. When were the modern Olympic Games revived?
6. Who is considered to be the father of modern Olympic Games?
7. When and where it was decided to revive the Olympic Games?
8. What is the motto of the Olympics?
9. What is the symbol of the Olympics?
10. What ceremonies were introduced in 1920 inAntwerp?
11. Since when has a medal become the Olympic award?
12. Are there ex-champions of the Olympic Games?
13. What does every Olympic Opening ceremony consist of?
14. Who declares the Olympic Games open?
15. What is the culmination of the Opening ceremony?
16. How do the athletes march from the arena in the Closing ceremony?
17. Since when have Belarusians been taking part in the Olympic Games as an independent team?
18. Who was the first Olympic medalist of the Republic of Belarus?
19. Who was a real hero of the XXV Olympic Games?
20. What is the IOC?
21. Where are the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee located?
Check up your skills
I. Put the words and word combinations in one of the boxes below:
| playing of the national anthem lowering of the Olympic flag interlocked rings motto opening charter closing parade flag visual effects oath medal presenting colourful show fireworks speeches lighting of the Olympic flame torch medals rising of the state flags olive wreath |
| Olympic ceremonies | Olympic symbols |
II. Match the nouns to the verbs and translate the word combinations:
| A D C D E F | encourage represent attend hold hoist light | 1. a flame 2. Olympic Games 3. a flag 4. a player 5. a continent 6. competitions |
III. Report these words and thoughts using the verb suggested.
1. I am going to London
He said __________________.
2. The match will be interesting.
I thought _________________.
3. Mike has bought the tickets for the match.
I was told____________________.
4. “It took me two hours to translate this instruction.”
He told me _______________.
5. “It’s time to start practising for the competition
The coach told ____________.
IV. Write reported questions with the introducing verb in the past tense. Vary the introducing verb: he asked, wondered, wanted to know, etc.
1. Where are you going? (He asked me…)
2. How did you perform this exercise. (They wanted to know…)
3. What is the matter?
4. How much have we paid for the football match ticket?
5. Will you still be practising at 5.00 p.m. tomorrow?
V. Put the following orders or requests into reported speech.
1. Come to my place. (She told me…)
2. Stay still!
3. Wait for me at the entrance door.
4. Don’t swim in this deep river.
5. Don’t be afraid of diving.
VI. Find a mistake in each sentence.
1.He said that he works hard at his new programme.
2.They told we that they often take part in competition.
3.The coach hoped he will be a good sportsman.
4.Ivanov heard that our team wins the game the day before yesterday.
5.The commentator said that the score is 3:1 to Dynamo.
6.Mr. Smith said that he never is to Minsk.
Keys to the “Check UpYour Skills” Sections
UNIT 1
III. know – knew – known
be – was/were – been
do – did – done
lead – led – led
swim – swam – swum
win – won – won
run – ran – run
study – studied – studied
play – played – played
participate – participated – participated
practise – practised – practised
IV.1. have visited
2. will have sent
3. like
4. goes jogging
5. is practicing
6. practiced
V. 1. What does Petrov do?
2. Since when has he been working as a соach?
3. What was he doing in the gym when I saw him?
4. What was the coach showing to his trainees?
5. Who has been practicing this element for an hour?
VI.1.1) was, 2) told, 3) was, 4) entered, 5) took up, 6) asked, 7) said, 8) would be, 9) are, 10) was fond, 11) was proud, 12) has made, 13) will love, 14) has taught, 15) has helped, 16) gives.
UNIT 2
III. 1) something; 2) anyone; 3) nobody; 4) any; 5) some; 6) nothing;
7) every; 8) anything
IV. 1. Where is he going to?
2. Who wants to become a good coach?
3. Whose friends have training practices every morning?
4. When does she usually go to the swimming pool?
5. What courses does the curriculum include?
6. How long have you been going in for a athletics?
7. Why didn’t Nick run the distance?
V. 1) our; 2) us; 3) I; 4) mine; 5) me; 6) she; 7) them; 8) we; 9) my;
10) their; 11) they; 12) themselves
UNIT 3
III. 1) well, 2) warm, 3) heavily, 4) high / highly, 5) badly
IV. 1) elder, 2) good, 3) latest, 4) further, 5) more/bette
V. 1) as…as, 2) twice as, 3) than, 4) not so…as, 5) half …as
VI. 1) the most attractive; 2) younger; 3) more modern; 4) more functional; 5) the
Best; 6) most professional; 7) the largest
UNIT 4
III. 1) are allowed to; 2) was able to; 3) have to; 4) won’t be able to; 5) ‘ll have to
IV. 1) must; 2) doesn’t have to; 3) is to; 4) not to; 5) will have to
V. 1) must have; 2) can’t have been; 3) might have; 4) can’t; 5) must
VI. 1) was able to; 2) should; 3) may; 4) can; 5) ought to
UNIT 5
III. 1. It is known that the first sports facilities were built by ancient Greeks.
2. Every year football matches at Dynamo stadium are attended by thousands of fans.
3. Look! The opponents’ goal is being attacked by our forward.
4. A very complicated element on the parallel bars has just been performed by
the gymnast.
5.New competition rules will be discussed at the team meeting.
IV. 1) by, 2) with, 3) by, 4) by, 5) with
V. 1. His world record was much written about in sports newspapers.
2. The injured athlete was carefully examined by the doctor.
3. Baseball is mostly played in the USA.
4. He was appointed head coach of the national team by the Ministry for Sports
andTourism.
5. This book is often asked for by the students in the University library.
VI. 1) are made; 2) is named; 3) is known; 4) are sponsored; 5) recognized
UNIT 6
III. 1) was going; 20 would be; 30 had bought; 4) had taken; 5) was
IV. 1) I was going; 2) 1 had performed; 3) the matter was; 4) we had paid;
5) he would be practicing
V. 1) to come; 2) to stay; 3) to wait; 4) not swim; 5) not to be afraid
VI. 1) worked; 2) took part; 3) would be; 4) had won; 5) was; 6) had been
Содержание
| Предисловие | |
| Unit I | |
| Text A. Physical Activity and Sport in the Society | |
| Text B. Physical Activity and Sports in the Human Life | |
| Text С. Human Body | |
| Text D. Sport in My Life | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Unit II | |
| Text A. Physical Education: its Goals and Objectives | |
| Text B. The History of Physical Education | |
| Text С. Physical Education in Belarus | |
| Text D. BelarusianStateUniversity of Physical Culture | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Unit III | |
| Text A. Sports in the Republic of Belarus | |
| Text B. Belarusian Sporting Traditions | |
| Text С. Sports for All in Belarus | |
| Text D. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Unit IV | |
| Text A. Sports and Games in Great Britain | |
| Text B. From the History of the Sporting Traditions | |
| Text С. Sports in the USA | |
| Text D. University Sport in the United Kingdom | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Unit V | |
| Text A. Sports Competitions | |
| Text B. The Championships, the World Gymnastics Championships | |
| Text С. The Tournaments, Wimbledon | |
| Text D. The Cups, FIFA World Cup | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Unit VI | |
| Text A. The Ceremonies of the Olympic Games | |
| Text B. History of the Olympic Games | |
| Text С. Olympic Competition | |
| Text D. The International Olympic Committee | |
| Check up your skills | |
| Appendix 1. Keys to the “Check Up Your Skills” Sections | |
| Appendix 2. List of irregular verbs |