46   I can describe sporting events

A    The Olympics

The first games took place in 776 BC, with one competition, a race of about 192 metres.

The first modern Olympics took place in 1896 with 241 competitors taking part in nine sports: athletics¹, cycling², fencing³, gymnastics⁴, weightlifting⁵, shooting⁶, swimming, tennis, and wrestling⁷. By 2004, there were over 11,000 people competing in 28 sports. 

Gymnast Larissa Latynina holds the record for the most Olympic medals (18).

Boxing is now the only Olympic sport where professionals are not allowed to compete.

 

Glossary

take place  (used about a meeting or an event) happen.

competition  a situation in which two or more people are trying to win sth or be better than sb (a person trying to win is a competitor). compete V. competitive ADJ.

race  a competition to see who is fastest or best, or who wins.

take part in sth  join with other people in an activity. SYN participate.

medal  a piece of metal given to an athlete who comes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.

professional  a person who plays a sport for money as their job. OPP amateur.

spotlight  record

A record is the best performance in something, especially sport.

She holds the record for the long jump.

(She has the record.)

He broke the record in the 100 metres.

(He set a new record.) 

4     Test yourself. Cover the words and look at the pictures. What are the sports?

  

B    Winners and losers

In a very one-sided contest, Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in the semi-final of the Australian Open to go through to his tenth grand slam final. Federer won the first set quite easily, then broke Roddick’s resistance in the second with some brilliant tennis. Afterwards, Roddick was very critical of his own performance, but praised his opponent for some outstanding tennis. Federer is now clearly the favourite to take his third Australian Open, and tenth grand slam overall. This would put him just one behind Rod Laver, a tremendous achievement for someone who is still only 25.

 

spotlight  defeat

As a verb, to defeat sb means to be stronger or better than somebody in a game, fight, etc. SYN beat sb.

Italy defeated Wales 2-0 in the last match they played.

As a noun, a defeat is an occasion when you don’t win something.

We won our first match, then followed it with three defeats.

 

Glossary

one-sided  If a game is one-sided, one person or team is much better than the other.

contest   an activity between two players or teams to see who is best.

semi-final  one of two games to decide who plays in the final.

final  the last game or match in a competition.

resistance  the action of trying to stop sth happening or stop sb doing sth. resist V.

brilliant  very good, clever, or skilful. SYN outstanding.

critical of sth/sb  saying what is wrong with sth/sb. criticize sth/sb V.

performance  the way in which sb plays or does sth. perform V.

praise sb/sth  say that sb/sth is very good. praise N.

opponent  a person who plays against you in a sport or competition.

favourite  the person or team who is expected to win. OPP outsider.

overall    including everything; in total.

achievement  a thing that you have done successfully through hard work or skill. achieve sth V.

7     Test yourself. Cover the glossary meanings and look at the words. What are the meanings?