Sport events

1. Read and memorize the following words and word-combinations:

sport event	спортивна подія
to host	приймати на своїй території, проводити
worthwhile	вигідний
to stage	організовувати
to cater for	обслуговувати, піклуватися про
welfare	благополуччя
to incur	брати на себе, підвергатися
debt	борг
merit	заслуга
beyond	за межами, крім
occasion	можливість, випадок
sport legacy	спортивна спадщина
honour	честь
to bid for smth	вести боротьбу за що-небудь
sufficient fund	достатній капітал
anthem	гімн
banned	заборонений
broadcaster	ведучий, диктор, коментатор
to compete	змагатися
doping	допінг
participant/contestant	учасник
motto	девіз
to postpone	переносити (початок змагання)
to win a competition	виграти змагання
to win a prize/title	виграти приз/отримати титул
to lose a competition	програти змагання
to win a victory over opponent in a competition, game	одержати перемогу над суперником у змагання, грі
strong/weak opponent	сильний/слабкий суперник
to break/to beat a record	побити рекорд

2. Many people want their country to host an international sport event. Others believe that international sport events bring more problems than benefits. Discuss both views and state your opinion.

There is frequently great competition to host international sport events. Not everyone, however, believes that the price involved in hosting such events is worthwhile. For me, this is an understandable point of view and perhaps not every country should try and stage international sport events.

The major argument against hosting international sport events is financial. Typically, it can cost several million pounds to build the arenas and modernize the infrastructure so that it can cater for the athletes and the spectators. This money, it is argued, would be better to spend on welfare and education programmes that provide direct support for the population. Indeed, some governments have incurred so much debt through hosting the Olympic Games that they have had to reduce spending on other social programmes.

While there is some merit in that argument, hosting sport events also brings significant benefits. First among them are honour and prestige which bring to the host country because that country will be the centre of the sport world for the duration of the event. For many people this is beyond any price. More than that, if the authorities plan carefully, they can use the occasion of the sport event to help finance public works that benefit the whole population in the long term. For example, the village for the athletes can be transformed into public housing and the various stadiums can be used to build a sport legacy for future generations.

My own view is that it is an honour for a country to host a major sport event. However, if a government wishes to bid for an international event to be staged in its country, it should ensure it has sufficient funds to maintain spending on other projects.