Топик Olympic Games. Олимпийские игры Олимпийские игры по английскому языку

Уровень С. Классическое эссе

The Importance of the Olympic Games

People have been thinking about their health since the time immemorial. The main way to keep fit is going in for sports. That is why the Olympic Games, which have long history, were organized. And this year, Russia is honored to host the winter Olympic Games. So how will they affect us and our country?
In my opinion, these Games will play a very important role in the history of the Russian Federation. First of all, we can show our hospitality, our traditions and our culture to people all over the world. I know that foreigners have some stereotypes about Russia, so these Games can break them. Secondly, it will be a great opportunity for our people to communicate and make more friends among guests from different countries. That will make our international relationships stronger.

But some people claim that holding Olympic Games is not a very good idea, because the country has to invest really a great deal of money to organize the ceremonies, build stadiums, hotels and Olympic Games objects and equipment for stadiums and athletic halls.

I strongly disagree with this opinion. I believe the more you give, the better results you will have. So this money will worth it.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Russia is famous for its hospitality and “a wide soul”. I believe that this event will help us become one big family, enjoy all this time and support our country in these important competitions.

Люди начали задумываться о своем здоровье с незапамятных лет. Основной путь поддержания себя в форме – это занятия спортом. Поэтому были организованы Олимпийские Игры, которые имеют свою длинную историю. В этом году, Россия удостоена чести принимать Зимние Олимпийские Игры у себя в гостях. Так как это повлияет на нас и нашу страну?

По моему мнению, эти игры сыграют огромную роль в истории Российской Федерации. В первую очередь, мы сможем показать нашу гостеприимность, наши традиции и нашу культуру людям со всего мира. Я знаю, что иностранцы имеют некоторые стереотипы о нашей стране, так что это событие поможет их разрушить. Во-вторых, это будет замечательной возможностью для нашего народа пообщаться с людьми из разных стран и завести себе друзей среди иностранцев. Это поможет нашим международным отношениям стать сильнее.

Но некоторые считают, что проведение Олимпийских игр не очень хорошая идея, так как государству следует вкладывать огромное количество денег в организацию. В строительство стадионов, гостиниц и различных Олимпийских объектов и оборудование для стадионов и манежей.

В заключение я бы хотела сказать, что Россия известна своей гостеприимность и «широкой душой». Я верю, что это событие поможет нам стать одним целым, насладиться этим временем и поддержать нашу сборную в этом сложном соревновании.

The Olympic Games are known to us since the days of ancient Greece, whence came the expression - "in a healthy body - a healthy mind". The Greeks paid special attention to sports and loaded themselves with physical exertion in order to always be in good physical shape in case of military actions. Sports competitions, gladiator fights, chariot competitions began to take place in the Mount Olympus. Each participant demonstrated his dexterity, courage, strength, speed.

Later, with the advent of the Romans on the territory of Greece, the Olympic Games began to be held less and less, and at the beginning of the eighth century, the authorities declared them a pagan rite and banned.

In 1894, the International Congress of Sports decided new rules for the games and, in 1896, the Olympic Games began to be held again every four years. Later the International Olympic Committee was created which selected the city for each regular game. The goal of the Olympic Games was to give every athlete the opportunity to play for his country in fair competition.

The most famous symbol of the Olympic Games is the image of five interconnected rings. Rings represent the union of five continents.

In 1928, Amsterdam first lit the Olympic flame, as a symbol of the will to win. Since then, the fire is lit before the start of each game, and it burns to the very end.

Олимпийские игры известны нам ещё со времён Древней Греции, откуда пришло выражение - "в здоровом теле - здоровый дух". Греки уделяли особое внимание спорту и нагружали себя физическими нагрузками, чтобы на случай военных действий всегда быть в хорошей физической форме. На горе Олимп начали устраиваться спортивные состязания, бои гладиаторов, соревнования на колесницах. Каждый участник демонстрировал свою ловкость, смелость, силу, скорость.

Позже, с появлением римлян на территории Греции, Олимпийские игры стали проводиться все реже и реже, и в начале восьмого века власти объявили их языческим обрядом и запретили.

В 1894 году году Международный спортивный конгресс постановил новые правила проведения игр и с 1896 году Олимпийские игры начали проводиться вновь через каждые четыре года. Позже был создан Международный олимпийский комитет, который выбирал город для проведения каждых очередных игр. Целью Олимпийских игр являлось дать возможность каждому спортсмену выступить за свою страну в честных состязаниях.

Самым известным символом Олимпийских игр является изображение пяти колец соединённых между собой. Кольца представляют объединение пяти континентов.

В 1928 году в Амстердаме впервые зажегся Олимпийский огонь, как символ воли к победе. С тех пор огонь зажигают перед началом каждых игр, и он горит до самого их завершения.

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 at Olimpia. 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 Pierre de Coubertin, 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 centuries-old tradition.

In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.

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. Russian sportsmen got medals for their records in many sports events.

Олимпийские игры

Олимпийские игры имеют очень давнюю историю. Они начались в 777 до н.э. в Греции и проходили каждые четыре года почти 12 веков в Олимпии. Они включали различные виды спорта: бег, бокс, борьба и т. д. Все города Греции посылали своих лучших спортсменов в Олимпию соревноваться в играх. Во время игр все войны останавливались. Так Олимпийские игры стали символом мира и дружбы.

В 394 г. н.э. игры были отменены и возобновлены лишь много веков спустя.

В 1894 году француз барон Пьер де Кубертен обратился ко всем спортивным руководящим органам и указал на значимость спорта и его воспитательное значение. Два года спустя состоялись первые современные Олимпийские игры. Конечно, соревнования были проведены в Греции символизируя продолжение многовековых традиций.

В 1896 году был создан Международный олимпийский комитет. Он является центральным директивным органом олимпийского движения. Он образуется представителями всех стран, которые принимают участие в Олимпийских играх. Международный олимпийский комитет принимает решения о программе игр, количестве участников и городах-хозяинах Олимпийских игр. Более 150 стран представлены в Международном олимпийском комитете в настоящее время. Кроме того, каждая страна имеет свой национальный олимпийский комитет.

Летние и зимние игры проводятся отдельно. Всегда есть несколько городов, желающих провести у себя игры. Наиболее подходящие выбираются Международным комитетом. После этого в городе начинается подготовка к соревнованиям: строятся новые спортивные объекты, стадионы, гостиницы, пресс-центры. Тысячи спортсменов, журналистов и гостей приезжают на игры и нужны огромные усилия, чтобы все уладить. На каждых играх имеется интересная культурная программа, концерты, выставки, фестивали и т.д.

Россия вступила в олимпийское движение в 1952 году. С тех пор она выиграла много золотых, серебряных и бронзовых медалей. В 1980 году в Москве прошли двадцать вторые Олимпийские игры. Русские спортсмены получили медали за свои рекорды во многих спортивных мероприятиях.

The Olympic Games are a major international event and they house different competitions in summer and winter sports.

And now a little bit of the history of the Olympics. The Olympic Games began more than two thousand years ago. Since then they are still the grounds of competition for the worlds greatest athletes. At the very beginning the Olympic games used to be a competition for the citizens of ancient Greece and of other nearby countries. And now they have developed into a worldwide, commercially oriented event.

The early Olympic Games started in 776 B.C in ancient Greece. Greek people found those games so important that they used periods in between the Games to date important historical events. The winner of the Games got very good prizes - free food and housing for life. Poets mentioned the winners in their poems, architects made sculptures of winner athletes, and they became popular throughout Greece. So, winning the Olympic Games made you a national hero. It was already an honor to take part in the Games. People from Italy, Sicily, Asia, Africa, and Spain all made the long way to Olympia. And all the famous people of the time attended the Games. Olympia was chosen as a sight of the Games because it was seen as a neutral area. It was also a beautiful green valley accessed by two rivers. The Olympia was also the place where the wild olive tree grew. And the Crown Olive became the only prize won at Olympia. One Persian leader who fought against Greece noticed that Greek people loved fighting not for gold and money but purely for the sake of excelling. Originally there was only one race. It was a sprint and the winners got a prize - an olive wreath. Time went on and other races and other sports were added like boxing and wrestling.

In 1894 baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee. In the 20th century Winter Olympic Games were created for ice and snow sports. The Olympic Games now are held every 2 years Winter Olympic Games coming after Summer Olympic Games . Then the Paralympic Games were added for people with physical disabilities and Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The growing importance of the Mass Media made the Olympic Games commercial.

There are over 13,000 athletes that compete at Summer and Winter Olympics in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second and third place winners in each event receive gold, silver or bronze Olympic medals, respectively.

The Games now give the chance to different sportsmen to get national or even international fame. And the Games also give an opportunity for the host city and country to show themselves to the world.

Перевод некоторых слов:

The Olympic Games, the Olympics - Олимпийские игры, a competition - соревнование, a major international event - одно из основных международное событие, an athlete - атлет, ancient Greece - древняя Греция, worldwide - по всему миру, to date historical events - датировать историческое событие, a winner - победитель, a sculpture - скульптура, a national hero - национальный герой, honor - слава, Olympia - Олимпия (город в Древней Греции, место проведения Олимпийских игр), a sight of the Games - место игр, wild olive tree - дикое оливковое дерево, for the sake of excelling - ради превосходства, победы, a sprint - бег на короткую дистанцию, спринт, an olive wreath - оливковый венок, Pierre de Coubertin - Пьер де Кубертен, the International Olympic Committee - Международный Олимпийский Комитет, Winter Olympic Games - Зимние Олимпийские игры, Summer Olympic Games - Летние Олимпийский Игры, the Paralympic Games - Паралимпийские игры (международные спортивные соревнование спортсменов-инвалидов), people with physical disabilities - люди с ограниченными возможностями, to give the chance - давать шанс, international fame - международная слава.

The Olympic Games are an international sports competition which are held every four years in a different city. Thousands of athletes from all over the world compete against each other in individual and team sports. Over 1 billion people watch the games on TV.

The first Olympic Games were held in Greece in 776 B.C. They were called the ancient games and lasted until the 4th century A.D. The modern games began in 1896, when the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin revived the games to bring peace and friendship to the young people all over the world.

Today, there are summer and winter games. Up to 1994 both games were held in the same year, but now they are staged two years apart from each other.

Ceremonies and symbols

The Olympic Games begin with the opening ceremony. Athletes from all the participating nations march into the stadium. Greece comes in first, because it was the first nation to hold the Olympics and the host nation comes in last.

The Olympic flag is raised and a chosen athlete lights the Olympic flame. It is a symbol of spirit, knowledge and life. The fire comes from Olympia, a small town in Greece and many runners transport the flame in a torch relay to the site of the games. It burns from the opening ceremony until the end of the games.

The Olympic rings were created in 1913 and represent the five continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas).

All athletes must take the Olympic oath. One of them has to promise that all athletes will give their best and compete in a fair way.

After each event, medals are given to the first three athletes. They receive gold, silver and bronze medals. Their flags are raised and the national anthem of the winner"s country is played.

The International Olympic Committee

The IOC is the organisation that governs the games. It decides which sports and events are held at the games. The IOC also selects the host city for the summer and winter games, at least seven years before they take place. Cities that want the games must show that

They have enough stadiums for all events
they have enough room for all the athletes
they can provide safety for the athletes
they can transport athletes and spectators from one event to another

Host cities must build an Olympic village where all athletes live during the games.

How can athletes take part?

Normally, each country decides for itself which sportsmen and –women are allowed to take part. Athletes must qualify for the games by winning or doing well in competitions before the Olympic Games start.

Athletes, who are sent to the games by their country must be a citizen of that country. For years, only amateurs were able to participate in the games, but today, most athletes are professionals, who earn their money through sport.

Most governments give their team money so that it can take part in the games.

The ancient Games

The ancient Olympic Games were celebrated at Olympia, Greece every four years. They were held in honour of the god Zeus. In the early games, only Greek men were allowed to participate. The games consisted of sports like footraces, wrestling, boxing, the pentathlon and horse racing. The last event of the games was usually a chariot race.

When the Romans conquered Greece in 140 B.C. the games started to lose their religious meaning and in 393 the Roman emperor banned the event.

The Summer Games

The Summer Games are held during the summer season of the host country. They last for 16 days. Today, there are more than 270 events during the games. Over 15,000 athletes from 190 nations take part.

The next Summer Games will be held in London (2012).

The Winter Games

The first separate Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924. They usually take place in February. Today, the Winter Olympics include over 60 events. Athletes from more than 60 countries participate.

Politics and the Olympic Games

In the past, the Olympic Games have been disturbed by political issues. In 1936 the IOC chose Berlin as the site for the 1936 Summer Games. A few years later, Adolf Hitler"s Nazi Party rose to power and Hitler used the games to show Germany"s power.

In 1968 two Black American runners protested against their government and raised their fists when the American national anthem was played.

In 1980 the USA-and many other countries-didn"t send athletes to the games in Moscow because the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan a year before. In return, the Russians and other Communist countries refused to take part in the 1984 games in Los Angeles.

The worst day in Olympic history came on September 5th, 1972 during the Munich games. Eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic village and killed two Israeli athletes. 9 others were taken hostage. They wanted the Israeli government to set free over 400 Arab prisoners in Israel. During a battle with German policemen all hostages and the terrorists were killed.

Olympia today

The Olympic Games have become very successful over the past years. More and more people are able to watch them on TV and television stations are spending more money for the rights to broadcast the games. The IOC earns more money than ever before. With this money they help athletes in poorer countries.

Drugs have become a big problem. Some athletes take drugs before and during the games in order to help their muscles grow. When they are caught they are disqualified and their medals are taken away from them.