Organizers say Tokyo Olympics will go ahead

 

Organizers say Tokyo Olympics will go ahead   

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZZ1syv2u3o&t=4s

Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."

The Games are due to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."

Warm-ups

1. THE TOKYO OLYMPICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Tokyo Olympics. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       speculation / July / Olympics / president / organize / cancel / event / confident / life /
       due / nightmare / safety / athletes / media / vaccine / obsessed / hosting / disaster
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TOKYO 2021: Students A strongly believe the Tokyo Olympics should go ahead; Students B strongly believe they should be cancelled or postponed. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GLOBAL EVENTS: How important are these global events? What are the challenges in hosting them? Complete this table.

	How Important	Challenges
The Olympics
The Oscars
The G8 Summit
The FIFA World Cup
UN Meetings
Pokemon Conference

5. SPECULATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "speculation". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OLYMPICS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best Olympic sports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• 100 metres
• Javelin
• Marathon
• Archery
• Judo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
• Sailing

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	speculation	a.	Likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect; radical and extreme.
2.	vowed	b.	A piece of work to be done or undertaken.
3.	task	c.	Promised to do something.
4.	host	d.	Be successful with something that looked difficult to do.
5.	drastic	e.	The forming of a theory or opinions without firm evidence.
6.	proposition	f.	Be the place in which a party or sports events takes place.
7.	pull it off	g.	A statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion.

    Paragraph 2

8.	logistical	h.	A terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect.
9.	nightmare	i.	The official launch or introduction of a new product or service.
10.	spectator	j.	An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
11.	amid	k.	A person who watches at a show, game, or other event.
12.	rollout	l.	Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.
13.	adamant	m.	Surrounded by; in the middle of.
14.	sacrifice	n.	Relating to or involving organization and planning.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

1. There has been little speculation about the Tokyo Olympics taking place. T / F
2. The IOC president promised the Tokyo Olympics would take place.     T / F
3. The president said the IOC is working around the clock.     T / F
4. An IOC spokesperson said life has no certainties.     T / F
5. Around 11,000 athletes are due to participate in the Tokyo Olympics.     T / F
6. Over 25,000 athletes participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics.     T / F
7. Japan's Prime Minister really want the Olympics to go ahead.     T / F
8. An anti-Olympics group fears the Olympics will be sacrificed.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.More than one answer is allowed.

1. speculation
2. vowed
3. task
4. confident
5. drastic
6. logistical
7. spectators
8. adamant
9. obsessed
10. sacrifice

1. assured
2. job
3. preoccupied
4. organisational
5. conjecture
6. determined
7. give up
8. promised
9. extreme
10. watchers

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. There has been much speculation
2. Bach vowed that the event
3. unless some drastic
4. I hope that we're able to pull
5. There are no certainties
6. amid a third wave
7. a vaccine
8. Suga is adamant that the Games
9. The government is obsessed
10. the Olympics would sacrifice

1. with hosting the Olympics
2. changes occur
3. of infections
4. in life
5. people's lives
6. recently
7. would go ahead
8. rollout
9. it off
10. will take place

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

task
pull
speculation
confident
vowed
certainties
drastic
host

Will they or won't they? There has been much (1) _____________________ recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) _____________________ that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our (3) _____________________ is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) _____________________ a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "(5) _____________________ " the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (6) _____________________ changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to (7) _____________________ it off." He added: "There are no (8) _____________________ in life and what might happen with the virus."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

nightmare
clear
spectators
rollout
due
sacrifice
adamant
state

The Games are (9) _____________________ to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical (10) _____________________ for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and (11) _____________________. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a (12) _____________________ of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine (13) _____________________ will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is (14) _____________________ that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming (15) _____________________ during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would (16) _____________________ people's lives."

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Will they or won't they? There has (1) ____________________ recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) ____________________ event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and (3) ____________________ them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) ____________________ event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (5) ____________________, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are (6) ____________________ life and what might happen with the virus."

The Games are (7) ____________________ on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to (8) ____________________ of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency (9) ____________________ wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (10) ____________________ the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is (11) ____________________ the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

1. What does the article say there has been a lot of recently?
2. What is Thomas Bach's position within the IOC?
3. When did Thomas Bach say the IOC is working?
4. What did Dick Pound say would have to happen to stop the Games?
5. Where did a spokesperson say there are no certainties?
6. What kind of nightmare does the article call the Games?
7. How many journalists attended the 2016 Games in Rio?
8. What two things might create better conditions for the Games?
9. How does Japan's Prime Minister feel about the Games taking place?
10. What did an anti-Olympics group say the Games would sacrifice?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say there has been a lot of recently?
a) coronavirus cases
b) sport
c) speculation
d) arguments
2) What is Thomas Bach's position within the IOC?
a) president
b) CEO
c) secretary
d) press officer
3) When did Thomas Bach say the IOC is working?
a) weekends
b) day and night
c) weekdays
d) 12 hours a day
4) What did Dick Pound say would have to happen to stop the Games?
a) a serious outbreak
b) an earthquake
c) a travel ban
d) drastic changes
5) Where did a spokesperson say there are no certainties?
a) at the Olympics
b) in Tokyo
c) in life
d) at home

6) What kind of nightmare does the article call the Games?
a) a terrible nightmare
b) a logistical nightmare
c) a sporting nightmare
d) a scary nightmare
7) How many journalists attended the 2016 Games in Rio?
a) just over 25,000
b) around 25,000
c) just fewer than 25,000
d) more than 25,000
8) What two things might create better conditions for the Games?
a) spectators and TV audiences
b) a vaccine and warmer weather
c) more money and consumer confidence
d) world records and top athletes
9) How does Japan's Prime Minister feel about the Games taking place?
a) worried
b) adamant
c) sad
d) ecstatic

10) What did an anti-Olympics group say the Games would sacrifice?
a) people's lives
b) records
c) safety
d) athletes

Role play

Role  A – 100 Metres You think the 100 metres is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, judo or wrestling.

Role  B – Marathon You think the marathon is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the 100 metres, judo or wrestling.

Role  C – Judo You think judo is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, the 100 metres or wrestling.

Role  D – Wrestling You think wrestling is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, judo or the 100 metres.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

·         speculation

·         president

·         task

·         night

·         confident

·         occur

·         nightmare

·         2016

·         third

·         safer

·         obsessed

·         disaster

Discussion - Tokyo Olympics

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Tokyo'?
2. What do you know about Tokyo?
3. Should the Tokyo Olympics go ahead in July?
4. How interested are you in the Olympics?
5. Should the Games go ahead but without spectators?
6. What damage would be done if the Games did not go ahead?
7. How safe do you think the Games would be?
8. How do you think the athletes feel?
9. Are there any certainties in life?

11. What do you think of when you hear the word 'Olympics'?
12. What do you think about what you read?
13. What do you know about the Olympics?
14. Why are the Games a 'logistical nightmare'?
15. How has the coronavirus affected you?
16. How would cancelling the Games affect Tokyo?
17. Do you think the Games could 'sacrifice people's lives'?
18. What will the world be like in a year from now?
19. What questions would you like to ask the IOC?

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Will they or won't they? There has been (1) ____ speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) ____ that the event would (3) ____ ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) ____ a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (5) ____ changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to (6) ____ it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."

The Games are (7) ____ to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to (8) ____ the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently (9) ____ a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is (10) ____ that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed (11) ____ hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's (12) ____."

Which of these words go in the above text?

1. (a)     many     (b)     loads     (c)     lots     (d)     much    
2. (a)     cowed     (b)     wowed     (c)     bowed     (d)     vowed    
3. (a)     come     (b)     go     (c)     give     (d)     take    
4. (a)     party     (b)     occasion     (c)     host     (d)     celebration    
5. (a)     caustic     (b)     mastic     (c)     drastic     (d)     plastic    
6. (a)     pull     (b)     push     (c)     nudge     (d)     tug    
7. (a)     schedule     (b)     due     (c)     plan     (d)     event    
8. (a)     secure     (b)     security     (c)     secures     (d)     secured    
9. (a)     below     (b)     under     (c)     above     (d)     over    
10. (a)     remnant     (b)     incumbent     (c)     adamant     (d)     dormant    
11. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     with     (d)     to    
12. (a)     sport     (b)     virus     (c)     vaccines     (d)     lives

Spelling

Paragraph 1

1. There has been much cpeialusotn
2. evwdo that the event would go ahead
3. IOC eporespksson
4. unless some ardtisc changes occur
5. this is a manageable oorstiippon
6. There are no areitnitces in life

Paragraph 2

7. It is a olsitcgial nightmare
8. the world's media and scattpeosr
9. amid a third wave of fteniicnos
10. a cavncie rollout
11. Suga is adaanmt that the Games will take place
12. srfiiacce people's lives