Russia faces athletics suspension

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A damaging report from the World Anti-Doping Agency has turned the athletics world upside down. It also called for lifetime bans for 10 Russian athletes. The agency says doping is everywhere in Russian athletics and is state sponsored. The country could be banned from international competitions if it does not accept the claims and take action. The International Association of Athletics Federations will call for Russia to be suspended from competitions.

Russian officials have called the report "groundless" and "unfounded". Its Sports Minister said the possibility of Russia being banned from the 2016 Olympics was unthinkable. He stated: "We have young sportsmen, for whom it will be their first Olympics." He added that" "Clean sportsmen should not suffer. They achieve their results by hard work." A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no evidence for the accusations.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/10/russia-iaaf-facing-suspension-wada-doping-report
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/no-evidence-of-doping-conspiracy-putin-s-spokesman-1.2652010
https://www.rt.com/news/321459-ioc-disciplinary-action-russia/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	A damaging	a.	sponsored
2.	turned the athletics world upside	b.	report
3.	It also called for lifetime	c.	down
4.	The agency says doping is	d.	Athletics Federations
5.	state	e.	everywhere
6.	take	f.	from competitions
7.	The International Association of	g.	bans
8.	call for Russia to be suspended	h.	action

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Russian officials have called the	a.	banned
2.	Sports	b.	not suffer
3.	the possibility of Russia being	c.	by hard work
4.	young	d.	report "groundless"
5.	it will be their	e.	sportsmen
6.	Clean sportsmen should	f.	Minister
7.	They achieve their results	g.	for the accusations
8.	there was no evidence	h.	first Olympics

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A (1) ___________________ from the World Anti-Doping Agency has turned the athletics world (2) ___________________. It also called for lifetime bans for 10 Russian athletes. The agency says (3) ___________________ in Russian athletics and is (4) ___________________. The country could be banned from international competitions if it does not (5) ___________________ and take action. The International Association of Athletics Federations will call for Russia to (6) ___________________ from competitions.

Russian officials have called the (7) ___________________ and "unfounded". Its Sports Minister (8) ___________________ of Russia being banned from the 2016 Olympics (9) ___________________. He stated: "We have young sportsmen, (10) ___________________ be their first Olympics." He added that: "Clean sportsmen should not suffer. They (11) ___________________ by hard work." A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was (12) ___________________ the accusations.

ATHLETICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about athletics in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about athletics for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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