Read the questions. Think about the topic. Pre-Reading Questions What do you know about the Olympics? How often are they held? What types of people are involved? What do you think are the main purposes of the Olympics? What are some of the Olympic traditions?
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The Olympic Games first took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The Olympics took place to bring athletes together from all over the world in an effort to promote world peace. Today the Olympics still holds those standards. The goal is to educate youth through sports and teach friendship and sportsmanship. The Olympic Games include a variety of individual and team sports.
In 1920 the Olympic flag was presented. The flag contains five interconnected rings with a white background. The rings symbolize the five significant continents and are symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. These colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on the flag of every country in the world.
The Olympic Games are held every four years. The Olympic Games are held throughout the world. The location of the games changes each time. Two locations are chosen each time. One to host the Winter Olympics and one to host the Summer Olympics. The next Olympics will take place 2008. Beijing will be the host.
Participating in the Olympic Games is a very special honor. The participants spend hours each day training and preparing for the games. They often have to move far from home to be close to Olympic training facilities. Qualifying for a spot on the Olympic team varies for each sport. However dedication, skill, motivation, hard work, and a desire to win are a part of the right formula for anyone dreaming of participating in the Olympic Games.
The best team or individual in each event is awarded a gold medal. The second best is awarded a silver medal, and third place earns a bronze medal. In 1896 first place received silver medals because gold was considered beneath silver. At the Olympic Games in 1904 held in St. Louis gold replaced silver as the first place medal. The gold medals presented today are actually made from sterling silver. They are then covered with a thin coat of pure gold.
Regardless of the medals earned, the Olympic Games give athletes the opportunity to present their knowledge and skills. The Olympics are very popular because of the competition and because they bring people from all countries together for a short time to not only compete with each other, but to remind us of the quest for peace among all nations.
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Copyright Matthew Wagner / Jayde Online, Inc. 2007.