Olympic MottoThe Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twenty centuries at Olympia. They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Ol ympia 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 (оновлені) until many centuries later. In 1894 French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed (звернувся) all the sports governing (урядових) bodies (органів) and pointed out (відмітив) the significance (значення) of sport and its educational (виховну) value (цінність). Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place (відбулися). The competitions were held (відбулися) in Greece to symbolize the continuation (продовження) of the centuries-old tradition (стародавньої столітньої традиції).
In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up (створений). It is the central body of the Olympic movement (руху). It is formed by the representatives of all countries, which take part in the Olympic Games. The Olympic motto is: Citius, Altius, Fortius,which is Latinfor "Faster, Higher, Stronger.“ The motto (девіз) was proposed (запропонований) by Pierre de Coubertin on the creation (створення, утворення) of the International Olympic Committee in 1894. This motto was introduced (представлений) in 1924 at the Olympic Games in Paris. The most important thing is not to win but to take part in the Olympic Games. Summer Games and Winter Games are held separately (окремо).
The Olympic flag has a white background (фон), with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic: it represents the five inhabited (населених) continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time. It was created (створений) by Pierre De Coubertin in 1914. The Olympic Hymn, also known informally as the Olympic Anthem, is played when the Olympic Flag is raised. The Olympic Flame (вогонь) is burning (горить) day and night for the duration (тривалість) of the Olympic Games. Ukraine is a regular participant in both summer and winter Olympic Games and is successful on the international level. Ukraine first participated at the Olympic Games as an independent nation in 1994. It has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games since then. Ukraine has won a total (загалом) of 96 medals at the Summer Games and five at the Winter Games, with gymnastics as the nation's top medal-producing sport. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine was created (утворений) in 1990 and recognized (визнаний) by the International Olympic Committee in 1993. Ukraine won 20 medals at London Summer Olympic Games in 2012: 6 of them are gold (2 - in Boxing, 1 – in Canoe Sprint, 1 – in Weightlifting, 1 – in Rowing, 1- in Fencing); 5 – silver, and 9 – bronze.
Exercise 3. Answer the questions: 1. When and where did the Olympic Games begin? 2. Why did the Olympic Games become the symbol of peace and friendship? 3. When did the Games in Greece stop? 4. Who renewed the Olympic movement? 5. When and where did the first modern Games take place? 6. When was the International Olympic Committee set up? What is its function? 7. Are Summer and Winter Games held separately? 8. Where were the latest Olympic Games held? 9. What is the motto of the Olympic Games? 10. What are the symbols of the Olympic Games? 11. When did Ukraine first participate at the Olympic Games as an independent nation? 12. When was the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine created? 13. When was it recognized by the International Olympic Committee? 14. What are the most famous Ukrainian sportsmen? 15. What kind of sport is considered one of the most popular sports in Ukraine?
Exercise 4. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box:
1. The Olympic... is: Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger.“ 2. Ukraine first.... at the Olympic Games as an independent nation in 1994. 3. The Olympic Anthem is played when the Olympic Flag is raised. 4. The... of the Olympic Games is composed of five..., coloured blue, yellow, black, green and red on a white field. 5. The Olympic... is burning day and night for the duration of the Olympic Games. 6. The International Olympic Committee was... in 1896.
Exercise 5. Match two parts of the sentences: 1. In 394 AD the Games... a) took place in 1896. 2. The Olympic flag has... b) blue, yellow, black, green and red. 3. The International Olympic Committee... c) burning day and night. 4. Five interlaced rings of the Olympic flag are... d) a white background. 5. The Olympic Flame is... e) was set up in 1896. 6. The first modern Olympic Games... f) were abolished. Module 2: A Man and Environment (Модуль 2: Людина та довкілля)
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The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, coloured blue, yellow, black, green and red on a white field. It was originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder (засновник) of the modern Olympic Games. Five Olympic rings represent the five continents involved (представлені) in the Olympics. They were adopted (прийняті) in 1914 and debuted (дебютували) at the Games at Antwerp, 1920.
