Размещено 5 лет назад по предмету Английский язык от sevgili95

The History of the Olympic Games

Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. The ruler of a small state, Ellis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Ellis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games. In the beginning this feast lasted one day, but later a whole month was devoted to it. The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Ellis. The first games which later were called the Olympic Games were held about a thousand years before our era.

Usually the Olympic Games began before the middle of the summer. Best athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling. In the course of time fist fighting (Boxing) and chariot races were also included in the Games. Winners of the Olympic Games were called “olympionics”, they were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions. 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.

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.

III. Answer the questions:

1. What did the ruler of Ellis want?

2. Why were his negotiations successful?

3. Why did he organize athletic games?

4. What was the duration of the games?

5. When were they held?

6. When were the first Olympic Games held?

7. Why did the best athletes arrive from many Greek states to Olympia?

8. How did they call the winners of the Olympic Games?

9. What were they awarded?

10. Were women allowed to take part in the Olympic Games?

IV. Say true or false:

1. To celebrate a status of a neutral state, he organized a war.

2. In the beginning this feast lasted two day, but later a whole month was devoted to it.

3. The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Ellis.

4. The first games were held about a hundred years before our era.

5. Worst athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling.

V. Complete the sentences:

1. Winners of the Olympic Games were called “…”.

2. Women were not allowed even to watch the ... at the stadium under the fear of death penalty.

3. The … had been held for about eleven hundred years.

4. The emperor Theodosius … them for religious reasons in 394 A.D.

5. The … of the Olympic Games began in 1892 .

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