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