B1 – Intermediate
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 2020, is a major international multi-sport event due to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games as governed by the International Olympic Committee.
In the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics, some events will have mixed-gender participants. This will make the Tokyo Olympics very gender-balanced. However, not every is pleased with this.
Find out about mixed reactions towards mixed-gender sports events at Tokyo 2020.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1706/170613-2020-olympics.html
Discussion Questions:
1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
20 replies on “Mixed-gender Events at the 2020 Olympics”
1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
– No, I have never watched it or have intention of doing so. I am not a big fan of sports, and even less watching them on television. However, if I had to choose one to watch it probably would be archery or ski.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
– When I think about the Olympics I think about ancient sports, the kind that you see in an Hercules movie. That’s why I think sports like skateboarding or basketball wouldn’t have the same transcendency as others. However, nowadays they are new trends, and life and society has to adapt. At the end, if it is a sport it has all the right to be included.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
– As I don’t follow it very much, I am not sure. However, I think I have heard multiple times that someone from Spain has won or finished in a good position. Therefore, I think Spanish athletes do pretty well.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
– As I said before, I don’t watch it. But If I had to choose an event at the Olympics to watch it probably would be ski, archery or judo because they are sports that I enjoy doing, so I think it would also be good to watch it and learn new techniques.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
– I don’t think it’s fair for the amateur athletes because that probably won’t have the same resources as the professional ones. I think they should compete because people enjoy watching them, but maybe be separated into categories so the amateur athletes have an option of winning and making a name for themselves too.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
– I don’t remember any as I didn’t watch it ever.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
– It gains visibility for the city and, if managed correctly, money investment in new infrastructures. An event like this could attract more tourists that will bring money to the country. However, most of the time I think, in events like this, politicians don’t manage it well and invest in unnecessary things. So at the end, more money is lost than gained.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
I like it. and i trye to follow the competencies in different disciplines. Cycling, swimming, gymnastic artistic and rythmics are my favorite disciplines.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
yes, are moderns sport that must be incluides, so the youngers have more interest in to practice those or watch those. Is a form of to put in the focus these new sports.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
I think the rowing that is a famous sport in the south of my country; specifically in Valdivia City. the best rowinger are of there.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
I like road cycling, track cycling and mountain biking.
also, i like artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.
And this year, I have started to interest for archery olimpic. is a discipline so much interesting for me.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
No, i don´t agree, because, is a exhibition for the best athletes around the world. and is a hard work for them. they dedicate all your time and life in this, so I think that must be only for professionals athletes and that be inspirations for all.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
the olympics of Barcelona 1992, but i remember because in this ceremony was Freddy mercury and i love Queen. i was 13 years old, and was incredible for me can to see it for the tv.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
the olympics help to promote the country, increment the job, the tourism, and make know the country and your culture
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
Yes , I like the Olympics a lot , I usually watch all that I can ,even some sports that are not my favorites
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
They could be different but any sport can be included in Olympics, It is a way to evolves ando engage young people
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
It depends on the sport but therea re some sport disciplines where spaniards athletes are very good
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
My favourite event is athletics and any other sport where I can follow my compatriots
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
In my opinion not. After all it is a show and it is better with people really trained
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
I remember London olympics, Tokio and Barcelona Olympics opening becuase it maked the difference , Since that moment the openings have been improving a lot
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
First of all they need to spend a lot of money but it can be returned if they do things well. They can leverage the infrastructures after the olympics and there is a good way to show your country to many people
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1. No, I’m not a big fan of the Olympics. No so much. I don’t like to watch sport on TV.
I prefer to play sports than watching them.
2. Yes, I think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics. Why not. They are a sport.
3. The athletes from my country are good in some sports and categories. Yes, I think we have a good Olympic team.
4. My favorite event at the Olympics is artistic gymnastic. They do amazing things.
5. Yes, I think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be. They are people who are training every day and preparing is their job. Many years training to obtain a medal.
6. I can remember Barcelona 92 Olympics. It was very important event for our country. Our athletes got many medals.
7. Your country is known all over the world.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
Not such a big fan, I prefer practicing sports than watching them. Moreover, I think professional sport takes a lot of preasure in the athlete and it is not healthy at all
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
Yes, I do. There are many different sports and everybody should have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
Yes, they did. Alberto Gines won the climbing gold medal in the Olympics, and we didn’t do bad at some other sports
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
My favourite event is sport climbing, obviously because I love this sport. I like football as well
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
I don’t think it was possible. This competition requires a lot of energy and preparation an amateur couldn’t deal with.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
I can remember the last Olympics because of the COVID restrictions
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
It brings a lot of money to the country, as lots of sports affitionates will go to see the Olympics, as well as more visibility to people from all over the world who will watch Olympics on the TV
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
I like watching the Olympics games but I’m not a big fan.
I enjoy when I watch sports that usually I don’t watch as gymnastics or synchronized swimming.
And I love watching the basketball matchs of Spanish team.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
I prefer other sports, but I understand that there are new trends, and if they keep the definition of sport they have to be included.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
We don’t win a huge number of medals but we have de best athletes in some sports like badminton, tennis, basketball, climbing and canoeing.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
My favorite event is when an athlete or team from my country wins the gold medal and the national anthem is played.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
I don’t think so. I enjoy watching the best athletes.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
Maybe, the Barcelona 1992 Olympics because these Olympics were celebrated in my country.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
In my opinion the first thing is to pay money to committee members. I think there are too much influence and economic interests.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
I was when I was yonger, but I lost interest over the years. I think maybe is because I have less time today than I had when I was in school or college.
Work is very time consuming and my interest changed.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
I don’t mind that new sports are added to the Olympics, we need to remember that the Olimplics aren’t the same as the greek played when they created it.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
More or less, we aren’t a big country or have a big population. We won 17 medals, 3 of them were gold.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
I always love Gymnastic, more specific females gymnastics. I think they are very strong and performed such a beautiful show.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
I don’t have any opinion with this, but I think the professional athletes invest so much time and money that I don’t see fair mix up this two kind.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
Sadly I can remember any of them. But I can related with the 1992 Olymplics, that took place in the city that I currently live.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
I think help the country to have investment, create new infrastructure and attracts more tourism.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
I like to watch the Olympic Games on TV but I am not really a big fan
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
Yes, why not?, the traditional sports were the same thing 100 years ago, in another 100 years the BMX style may will be a traditional sport.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
I think that spanish olimpics have a lot of merit, they haven´t support and get good results.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
I think the marathon is my favourite because the people reach their limits in the worst situation.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
Yes, the problem is that the profesional sport has the money and the sponsors and the Olympics can´t compete.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
Barcelona 92. the best Olympic games in history. The COI president says the same every olympic games but barcelona was an sport party with all the ingredents for make this real and obviusly I could live it in direct.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
A world event is a way to make profitable investment in urban planning, communications or infrastructures. Usually, also, increases the pride and visibility of the city and the country that hosts it.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
No so much. I don’t like to watch sport on TV.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
Why not? I think that it could be a motivation to introduce new people interested on Olympics games.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
Yes, they do. We have got sombre medals in Olympics games.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
I like the winter sports because I like to practice sky.
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
No, I think that it should be opened for professional that practice these sports and that have high level of them.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
I remember very well the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. It was in my city, and I could live this moment closer.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
They help the country giving them facilities, investment, and someone to be it possible. I could see it in the Olympics game at Barcelona in 1992.
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1. Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
Yes, I like them, especially athletics competitions.
2. Do you think skateboarding, 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing and BMX freestyle belong in the Olympics?
Partially, I think that new sports should be represented, but never in substitution of others. Another condition is that they should be popular, practiced in several countries and that there is a federation that supports them.
3. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
Since 1992, athletes from Spain have performed an acceptable role in the Olympic Games, since Barcelona our athletes have obtained an average of 20 medals in each Olympics.
4. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
Athletics and especially speed, high jump and pole vault events. When I was young I practiced it
5. Do you think the Olympics should only be for amateur athletes, like it used to be?
No, I think that since the Olympic Games were opened to professionals they have improved and the number of followers has increased, an example of this is Basketball and how it has captured the attention of the general public since the NBA players have been incorporated.
6. Which Olympics can you remember well?
Barcelona 1992, I was able to attend the opening ceremony and the athletics events, it was something unforgettable, I felt proud of my city and country.
7. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?
If the necessary investments to organize the Olympic Games are made rationally, they can leave the city with improvements in infrastructure and facilities. In the case of Barcelona, the Olympic Games meant a modernization of the city, improvement of its infrastructure and especially its opening to the sea.
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