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I. Warm-up Questions
Directions: discuss and answer the following questions.
1. What’s your favorite sport? Why do you like it?
2. Which Olympic champion(s) has / have impressed you the most? Why?
3. Why are the Olympic Games so popular all over the world?
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II. Quotes
Directions: Study the following quotes about sports. Which quote do you like best? Why?
1. Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.
— George F. Will
2. The athlete makes himself; the coach doesn’t make the athlete.
— Bill Bowerman
3. Throughout its history, the International Olympic Committee has struggled to spread its ideal of fraternity, friendship, peaceand universal understanding.
— Juan Antonio Samaranch
4. The goal of Olympism is to place everywhere sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to (旨在) encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation (维护) of human dignity. To this effect, the Olympic Movement engages, alone or in cooperation with other organizations and within the limits of its means, in actions to promote peace.
— From The Olympic Charter
Interpretation:
1. In the sports circle we find distinguished men and women who, with their athletic skills, sportsmanship and undaunted spirit, provide perfect examples for people of different walks of life who wish to excel others and prove their own value.
2. Bill Bowerman tells us from his own experience that the making of a successful athlete does not depend solely on the coach. No athlete can excel others if he or she does not train hard and strive for excellence.
3. Samaranch speaks of the mission of the International Olympic Committee, which is to promote peace, understanding, brotherhood and friendship among people of different nations and countries.
4. In this quote from the Olympic Charter, the goal of the Olympics is made clear: Sports should serve the harmonious development of mankind, and sports should help build up world peace.
