The Olympic Games. My dialog. Please, check it)) I'm under the letter of the V)) ...V: Hello Svetlana and the radio-listeners. It’s pleasant to me that I were invited to your program! I’ll talk to you with pleasure. S: Thanks Veronica. So, as I said earlier we are talking about sport. There are many people who are found of sport but other people prefer to watch rather than take part. And today’s our topic is “The Olympic Games”. All people all over the world watch the Games and I think it’d be useful to find out about this Games more. So, Veronica, I think not all our listeners know about the first classic Olympic Games and I’d like you tell us when and where were the first Games hold? V: If you allow me, I will also tell you how the Olympic Games appear. So, long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such a small state, Elis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Elis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games. Based on the above, I answer you on the first question, the Olympic Games originated in Greece and it were hold in honour of Zeus – the most important of the ancient Greek goods. Exact date of the first Olympic Games is 776 BC. They were held every four years, in the middle of the summer. S: And did people take part only in sport contest like now or am I wrong? V: I think our listeners will be surprised to know that sport competitions accompanied contest in oratory, poetry, music and art. Poets recited their poems, singers sang hymns dancers danced and orators pronounced speeches — all this in honour of the sacred Games. S: Sounds interesting. Veronica, is there something special in the first Olympic Games? V: Yes, one of the features was the fact that only men could take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not allowed even to watch the competitions at the stadium under the fear of death penalty. It is worth noting, winners of the Olympic Games were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions. S: I also know that in the history of the Olympic Games there was a time when the Games were suppressed. Why did it happen and who canceled the Games? V: The Olympic Games was suppressed by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in AD 392. This was due to religious reasons. S: Really? When and due to whom the Games were revived? V: The revival of the Olympic Games began long time afterwards, in 1892, when a young French teacher Pierre de Coubertin made a public speech before the Union of French sports clubs in Paris. At that time many people in many countries practised various kinds of sports and games. They wanted to make friends and compete with sportsmen from other lands. Pierre de Coubertin understood the importance of sports which unified peoples of the world and served the cause of peace like in ancient time. On the 23rd of June 1894 the International Congress of amateur sportsmen made an important decision: to revive the Olympic Games S: Oh, I see. Due to this person you’ll be able to take part in the near Olympic Games. V: Yes, if only he hadn’t done it I wouldn’t talk to you now. S: Yeah, … I’m sure you know all about the modern Olympic Games, too. Could you tell us about opening ceremony, the Olympic oaths and the motto of the Games? V: Opening ceremony of the Games is exciting spectacle. First a representative athlete from the host country, holding a corner of the Olympic flag, takes the following oath on behalf of all participations. After the representative athlete, a judge from the host country takes an oath on behalf of all those judging and officiating in the Games. Olympic motto says «Citius, aitius, fortius» thet translate Latin for «Faster, higher, braver » S: Yes, the beginning of the Games is an impressive event. But what about the flag? May you explain the meaning of it? V: The Olympic flag has a motif of fie interlocking rings on a white background. The 5 rings represent 5 continents of the world and symbolize universal brotherhood. Six colors of the rings represent the nations of the world, since every national flag contains at least one of these colors.