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Text 8. OLYMPIC SPORTS, CHAMPIONS

AND MEDALISTS

Currently, the Olympic program consists of 35 different sports, 53 disciplines and more than 400 events. The Summer Olympics includes 28 sports with 38 disciplines and the Winter Olympics includes 7 sports with 15 disciplines. Nine sports were on the original Olympic programme in 1896: athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, weightlifting, shooting, swimming, tennis, and wrestling. If the 1896 rowing events had not been cancelled due to bad weather, they would have been included in this list as well.

At the most recent Winter Olympics, seven sports were conducted, or 15 if each sport such as skiing and skating is counted. Of these, cross country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping, and speed skating have been featured on the programme at all Winter Olympics. In addition, figure skating and ice hockey also have been contested as part of the Summer Games before the introduction of separate Winter Olympics.

In recent years, the IOC has added several new sports to the programme to attract attention from young spectators. Examples of such sports include snowboarding and beach volleyball. The growth of the Olympics also means that some less popular (modern pentathlon) or expensive (white water* canoeing) sports may lose their place on the Olympic programme. The IOC decided to discontinue baseball and softball beginning in 2012.

At the 117th IOC Session, 26 sports were included in the programme for London 2012.

In Coubertin’s vision, athletes should be gentlemen. Initially, only amateurs were considered such; professional athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. A short-lived exception was made for professional fencing instructors. This exclusion of professionals has caused several controversies throughout the history of the modern Olympics.

It gradually became clear to many that the amateurism rules had become outdated, not least because the self-financed amateurs of Western countries often were no match for the state-sponsored "full-time amateurs" of Eastern bloc countries. Nevertheless, the IOC held to the traditional rules regarding amateurism. In the 1970s, amateurism requirements were dropped from the Olympic Charter, leaving decisions on professional participation to the international federation for each sport.

Because the Olympics are held only once every four years, the public and athletes often consider them as more important and valuable than world championships and other international tournaments, which are often held annually. Many athletes have become celebrities or heroes in their own country, or even world-wide, after becoming Olympic champions.

* - white water – горная река с порогами.

Раздел 3. Учебно-познавательная сфера общения

Тема 1. Higher Education Abroad

UNIVERSITIES

In the US, students usually study at college for four years, although some students take five years to finish their DEGREE. Students usually choose one main subject to study, which is called their MAJOR, and often choose to study one other subject, called a MINOR. If you MAJOR in a subject, you study it as your major subject. Students must also take classes in other subjects. Some universities are partly paid for by state governments, but even students at these universities must pay a lot of money for their education. Most students work PART-TIME while they are studying, to pay for their living costs. Many take out a LOAN (=borrow money from a bank) which they begin to pay back after they GRADUATE (=successfully complete their course), and that can take many years to pay back.

In England and Wales university courses usually last for three years, and students typically study either one subject, or two subjects that are related. In Scotland the university system is different, and courses usually continue for four years.

Students in Scotland study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree. In the UK, students take out STUDENT LOANS, which means that they borrow money from a bank to pay for their living costs, and often have large debts by the time they finish their course. Some students from poor families receive a GRANT from the government to help pay for their living costs.

Life at College and University

The academic year in Britain’s universities, Polytech­nics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.

Good A-level results in at least two subjects are neces­sary to get a place at a university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose their students af­ter interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings with it a grant from their local education authority.

English universities greatly differ from each other. They dif­fer in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general orga­nization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineer­ing, Medicine, etc. Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an impor­tant feature of university work.

The two intellectual eyes of Britain—Oxford and Cam­bridge Universities—date from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

The Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Ab­erdeen and Edinburgh date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who 'attend' lectures by watching televi­sion and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.

Life at College and University

The academic year in Britain’s universities, Polytech­nics, Colleges of Education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.

Good A-level results in at least two subjects are neces­sary to get a place at a university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose their students af­ter interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings with it a grant from their local education authority.

English universities greatly differ from each other. They dif­fer in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general orga­nization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineer­ing, Medicine, etc. Later he may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an impor­tant feature of university work.

The two intellectual eyes of Britain—Oxford and Cam­bridge Universities—date from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

The Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Ab­erdeen and Edinburgh date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who 'attend' lectures by watching televi­sion and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.