Lesson 7 The History of the Olympic Games (Part II)

Only men could take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not allowed even to watch the competitions at the stadium under the fear of death penalty. There was a single exception, when a woman coached her son and accompanied him to the stadium in men's clothes. That brave woman was spared the penalty because her son excelled in many events.

Magnificent strong bodies inspired artists and sculptors. They painted wall pictures and made statues of marble and bronze, so now we can admire the corporal beauty of ancient and eternally young discus thrower, javelin bearer and others.

The Olympic Games had been held for about eleven hundred years, until the emperor Theodosius banned them for religious reasons in 394 A. D.

The revival of the Olympic Games began long time afterwards, in 1892, when a young French teacher Pierre de Coubertin made a public speech before the Union of French sports clubs in Paris. At that time many people in many countries practised various kinds of sports and games. They wanted to make friends and compete with sportsmen from other lands. Pierre de Coubertin understood the importance of sports which unified peoples of the world and served the cause of peace like in ancient time.

On the 23rd of June 1894 the International Congress of amateur sportsmen made an important decision: to revive the Olympic Games and to establish the International Olympic Committee which would be responsible for the administration of the modern Olympic Games. The first Committee consisted of 12 members. Now 82 members of the International Olympic Committee control the affairs of all member countries which joined the Olympic movement.

Vocabulary:

to accompany – супроводжувати

to pronounce speeches – робити промови, промовляти

under the fear of death penalty – під страхом смертельної кори

exception – виключення, виняток

to coach – тренувати

to be spared of penalty – запобігати покарання

to excell in many events – відзначитися в багатьох змаганнях

magnificent strong bodies – чудові сильні тіла

eternally young –вічно молодий

to ban – забороняти

revival – відродження

to serve the cause of peace – служити справі миру

amateur sportsman – спортсмен-аматор

responsible – відповідальний

to inspire – надихати

corporal beauty – краса тіла

1. Answer the following questions:

1. What were the Olympic Games accompanied by?

2. What women had an exceptional right to watch the Games?

3. Why can we still see magnificent strong bodies of ancient athletes?

4. Who banned the Olympic Games?

5. Why did Theodosius do it?

6. What was Pierre de Coubertin?

7. What did the young French teacher understand?

8. When did the International Congress of amateur sportsmen make an important decision?

9. How many members did the first Committee consist of?

10. How many country-members are there in the Committee now?

    2. Insert prepositions:

1. The Olympic Games began ___ the middle ___ summer.

2. Not all people could take part ___ the Games.

3. The captain ___ the team asked the coach to explain the rule again.

4. “Don’t be angry-me”, the girl said.

5. He spoke-such a loud voice that we couldn’t understand anything.

6. I asked to read books ___ voyages ___ my children.

7. He is pleased ___ his holiday.

8. He looked ___ all the telegrams very quickly and gave them___the secretary.

9. “Excuse me, how can I get ___ the bookshop?” “It’s ___there ___ the right”.

10. Please, ask that man what time it is___his watch.