Breaking News English Lesson on Sports

Home | Help This Site

Sports events cancelled, COVID-19 fears over Olympics (14th March, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Sports - Level 6

The global spread of COVID-19 is playing havoc with sports events worldwide. After the WHO designated the coronavirus as a pandemic, many sports associations have taken measures to curb the spread of the virus. Major sporting events are being suspended on a daily basis. European football is coming to a standstill as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and other major leagues have suspended games for the coming weeks. The Champions League could be suspended until next summer. In other sports, the first grand prix of the Formula 1 season has been cancelled in Australia; and the National Hockey League and National Basketball League have been suspended until further notice.

The biggest concern for sports fans is uncertainty over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has called for preparations to continue as scheduled. The minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said it was "inconceivable" they would be cancelled. However, a member of the organizing committee said it was "more realistic" to postpone the Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider postponing the Games. He said: "It's a shame because they built some really beautiful buildings." Sport is already being hit in Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held behind closed doors in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sports - Level 4 or Sports - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51853524
https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-european-championship/story/4073259/champions-league-cancellation-euro-2020-delay-on-table
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11956076/uefa-considers-champions-league-and-europa-league-suspension

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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. SPORTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sports. 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?
spread / COVID-19 / pandemic / sports / standstill / major leagues / Formula 1 /
concern / Tokyo Olympics / preparations / committee / shame / sumo / baseball
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. POSTPONED: Students A strongly believe all sporting events should be postponed until COVID-19 disappears; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COVID-19: How has COVID-19 affected these things? What would you do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What Has Happened?	What Would You Do?
Sport
Finance
Travel
International relations
City life
Shopping

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. PANDEMIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pandemic". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CLOSE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that should close at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Cinemas
Sports stadia
Horse races
Bars and pubs
Theatres
Museums
Amusement parks
Gyms

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	havoc	a.	Delayed an action or event.
2.	designated	b.	Great confusion or disorder.
3.	pandemic	c.	Restrain or stop something from happening.
4.	measure	d.	Officially gave a specific status, name or quality to something or someone.
5.	curb	e.	A plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose.
6.	standstill	f.	Of a disease that is spreading across a whole country or the world.
7.	suspended	g.	A situation or condition in which there is no movement or activity at all.

Paragraph 2

8.	scheduled	h.	Arranged or planned an event to take place at a particular time.
9.	inconceivable	i.	Taking place without anyone watching.
10.	committee	j.	Not capable of being imagined.
11.	postpone	k.	A series of contests between a number of competitors, who compete for an overall prize.
12.	shame	l.	A group of people appointed for a specific function, typically consisting of members of a larger group.
13.	tournament	m.	Cause or arrange for something to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.
14.	behind closed doors	n.	A regrettable or unfortunate situation or action.

Before reading / listening

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

The WHO said no one can play the sport of havoc during the pandemic. T / F
The WHO earlier designated the pandemic as a coronavirus. T / F
The Champions League could be delayed until next summer. T / F
The whole of the Formula 1 season has been cancelled. T / F
Many people are worried about whether the Olympics will take place. T / F
Donald Trump said to hold the Olympics would be a shame. T / F
A 15-day sumo tournament in Japan has been cancelled. T / F
A high school baseball tournament in Japan has been cancelled. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

spread
designated
curb
standstill
suspended
uncertainty
scheduled
inconceivable
shame
cancelled

unthinkable
restrain
postponed
called off
planned
classed
proliferation
pity
stop
doubt

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

COVID-19 is playing
After the WHO designated the coronavirus
taken measures to curb the
European football is coming to
suspended until further
The biggest concern for sports fans
continue as
it was "inconceivable" they would
Japan should consider
being held behind

is uncertainty
a standstill
notice
closed doors
as a pandemic
scheduled
postponing the Games
havoc with sports events
be cancelled
spread of the virus

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

suspended
havoc
curb
season
basis
notice
designated
first

The global spread of COVID-19 is playing (1) ____________ with sports events worldwide. After the WHO (2) ____________ the coronavirus as a pandemic, many sports associations have taken measures to (3) ____________ the spread of the virus. Major sporting events are being suspended on a daily (4) ____________. European football is coming to a standstill as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and other major leagues have (5) ____________ games for the coming weeks. The Champions League could be suspended until next summer. In other sports, the (6) ____________ grand prix of the Formula 1 (7) ____________ has been cancelled in Australia; and the National Hockey League and National Basketball League have been suspended until further (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

member
shame
scheduled
doors
inconceivable
concern
hit
postpone

The biggest (9) ____________ for sports fans is uncertainty over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has called for preparations to continue as (10) ____________. The minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said it was "(11) ____________" they would be cancelled. However, a (12) ____________ of the organizing committee said it was "more realistic" to (13) ____________ the Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider postponing the Games. He said: "It's a (14) ____________ because they built some really beautiful buildings." Sport is already being (15) ____________ in Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held behind closed (16) ____________ in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The global spread of COVID-19 is playing ______ events
     a. havoc with sports
     b. pivot with sports
     c. relic with sports
     d. divot with sports
2) After the WHO designated the coronavirus ______
     a. was a pandemic
     b. has a pandemic
     c. as a pandemic
     d. is a pandemic
3) many sports associations have taken measures to ______
     a. curb the spread
     b. kerb the spread
     c. carb the spread
     d. crib the spread
4) other major leagues have suspended games for ______
     a. the come in weeks
     b. the coming in weeks
     c. the come Ming weeks
     d. the coming weeks
5) National Basketball League have been suspended ______
     a. until farther notice
     b. until future notice
     c. until father notice
     d. until further notice

6) The biggest concern for sports ______
     a. fans is uncertainty
     b. fans is uncertain
     c. fans is not certainly
     d. fans is non-certain
7) Japan's government has called for preparations to ______
     a. continue that's scheduled
     b. continue are scheduled
     c. continue as scheduled
     d. continue has scheduled
8) a member of the organizing committee said it ______
     a. was "moor realistic"
     b. was "mare realistic"
    c. was "more realistic"
     d. was "much realistic"
9) Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider ______ Games
     a. post phoning the
     b. post pinning the
     c. postponing the
     d. postpone in the
10) The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held ______
     a. behind closet doors
     b. behind closed windows
     c. behind house doors
     d. behind closed doors

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The global spread of COVID-19 is (1) ___________________ sports events worldwide. After the WHO designated the coronavirus (2) ___________________, many sports associations have taken measures to curb the spread of the virus. Major sporting events are (3) ___________________ a daily basis. European football is coming to a standstill as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and other major leagues have suspended games for (4) ___________________. The Champions League could be suspended until next summer. In other sports, the first grand prix of the Formula 1 (5) ___________________ cancelled in Australia; and the National Hockey League and National Basketball League have been suspended (6) ___________________.

The biggest concern for sports fans (7) ___________________ the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has called for preparations to (8) ___________________. The minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said (9) ___________________ they would be cancelled. However, a member of the organizing committee said it was "more realistic" (10) ___________________ Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider postponing the Games. He said: "It's (11) ___________________ they built some really beautiful buildings." Sport is already being hit in Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held (12) ___________________ in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled.

Comprehension questions

What did the article say COVID-19 was doing to sports worldwide?
What have sports associations taken to curb the spread of the virus?
What did the article say European football was coming to?
What did the article say could be suspended until next summer?
Until when did the article say the USA's basketball league is suspended?
What is the biggest concern for sports fans?
What did the Olympics minister say about cancelling the Games?
What did Donald Trump say the Japanese have built?
Where in Osaka is a sumo tournament being held?
What kind of baseball tournament has been cancelled in Japan?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say COVID-19 was doing to sports worldwide?
a) jeopardising them
b) rearranging them
c) destroying them
d) playing havoc with them
2) What have sports associations taken to curb the spread of the virus?
a) face masks
b) measures
c) money
d) advice
3) What did the article say European football was coming to?
a) a joke
b) meltdown
c) a town near you
d) a standstill
4) What did the article say could be suspended until next summer?
a) all sport
b) elections
c) the Champions League
d) Euro 2020
5) Until when did the article say the USA's basketball league is suspended?
a) 2021
b) lunch time
c) next Wednesday
d) until further notice

6) What is the biggest concern for sports fans?
a) their favourite team
b) ticket refunds
c) the Olympics
d) the health of athletes
7) What did the Olympics minister say about cancelling the Games?
a) it was inconceivable
b) it was unstoppable
c) it will happen
d) he would quit if that happened
8) What did Donald Trump say the Japanese have built?
a) trust
b) isolation centres
c) beautiful buildings
d) the best stadium ever
9) Where in Osaka is a sumo tournament being held?
a) in the dark
b) behind closed doors
c) in a hospital
d) in the south
10) What kind of baseball tournament has been cancelled in Japan?
a) a high school tournament
b) a professional tournament
c) a kindergarten tournament
d) an international tournament

Role play

Role A – Amusement Parks
You think amusement parks are the most important places to close during the COVID-19 outbreak. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as important to close their places. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to close (and why): museums, sports stadia or gyms.

Role B – Museums
You think museums are the most important places to close during the COVID-19 outbreak. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as important to close their places. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to close (and why): amusement parks, sports stadia or gyms.

Role C – Sports Stadia
You think sports stadia are the most important places to close during the COVID-19 outbreak. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as important to close their places. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to close (and why): museums, amusement parks or gyms.

Role D – Gyms
You think gyms are the most important places to close during the COVID-19 outbreak. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as important to close their places. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to close (and why): museums, sports stadia or amusement parks.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'sports'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'events'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

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

spread

measures

basis

coming

first

notice

concern

continue

member

shame

hit

doors

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Sports

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sport'?
What is your favourite sport?
What events have been cancelled in your country?
What events should be cancelled in your country?
Are you surprised that many sports events are still going ahead?
Do you agree with suspending sports leagues?
How long do you think sports leagues should be suspended for?
How has COVID-19 affected your life?
What advice do you have for sports fans?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'event'?
What do you think about what you read?
How worried are you about the Olympics being cancelled?
How bad would it be if the Olympics were cancelled?
Would it be OK for the Olympics to take place without spectators?
How would athletes feel about the Olympics being postponed?
Should sports events take place behind closed doors?
How are authorities dealing with COVID-19?
What questions would you like to ask COVID-19 experts?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The global spread of COVID-19 is (1) ____ havoc with sports events worldwide. After the WHO (2) ____ the coronavirus as a pandemic, many sports associations have taken measures to (3) ____ the spread of the virus. Major sporting events are being suspended on a daily basis. European football is coming to a (4) ____ as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and other major leagues have suspended games for the coming weeks. The Champions League could (5) ____ suspended until next summer. In other sports, the first grand prix of the Formula 1 season has been cancelled in Australia; and the National Hockey League and National Basketball League have been suspended until further (6) ____.

The biggest concern for sports fans is (7) ____ over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has called for preparations to continue (8) ____ scheduled. The minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said it was "inconceivable" they would be cancelled. However, a member of the organizing committee said it was "more (9) ____" to postpone the Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider postponing the Games. He said: "It's a (10) ____ because they built some really beautiful buildings." Sport is already being hit (11) ____ Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held behind closed (12) ____ in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) having (b) playing (c) doing (d) tackling
(a) deigned (b) designated (c) designed (d) digested
(a) carb (b) kerb (c) crib (d) curb
(a) standing (b) standstill (c) standard (d) stand
(a) have (b) be (c) do (d) play
(a) sight (b) awareness (c) notice (d) recognition
(a) certainty (b) uncertain (c) uncertainty (d) curtains
(a) was (b) has (c) as (d) be
(a) realism (b) really (c) reality (d) realistic
(a) shame (b) sham (c) shimmy (d) shun
(a) in (b) at (c) on (d) as
(a) windows (b) rooves (c) doors (d) houses

Spelling

Paragraph 1

playing oahcv with sports events
eatngsdeid the coronavirus as a pandemic
ucrb the spread of the virus
on a daily ssiba
other major lgsuaee
sndpsueed until further notice

Paragraph 2

nraeuttincy over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
continue as uehscdeld
it was boavinielcnec they would be cancelled
more islrtaeic to postpone the Games
Trump dutgesges Japan should consider
high school baseball nrutoetanm

Put the text back together

(...) held behind closed doors in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled.
(...) a pandemic, many sports associations have taken measures to curb the spread of the
(...) and National Basketball League have been suspended until further notice.
(...) coming to a standstill as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and other major leagues have suspended games for the coming
(...) grand prix of the Formula 1 season has been cancelled in Australia; and the National Hockey League
(...) called for preparations to continue as scheduled. The minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said it was
( 1 ) The global spread of COVID-19 is playing havoc with sports events worldwide. After the WHO designated the coronavirus as
(...) "inconceivable" they would be cancelled. However, a member of the organizing committee said it was "more
(...) weeks. The Champions League could be suspended until next summer. In other sports, the first
(...) realistic" to postpone the Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should consider
(...) postponing the Games. He said: "It's a shame because they built some really beautiful
(...) buildings." Sport is already being hit in Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being
(...) The biggest concern for sports fans is uncertainty over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has
(...) virus. Major sporting events are being suspended on a daily basis. European football is

Put the words in the right order

with COVID-19 playing sports events worldwide . is havoc
designated The the coronavirus as WHO a pandemic .
have spread . the measures taken curb Associations to
are basis . daily suspended Events being a on
have games weeks . suspended Leagues the coming for
for sports The uncertainty . concern fans biggest is
continue . called preparations Japan's government has to for
the Olympics It inconceivable be was cancelled . would
postponing suggested Games . Trump should Japan the consider
tournament being doors . A closed behind held is

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The global / globally spread of COVID-19 is playing havoc with sports events worldwide. After the WHO designated the coronavirus was / as a pandemic, many sports associations have taken measure / measures to curb the spread of the virus. Major sporting events are being / been suspended on a daily basis. European football is coming to a still / standstill as Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and another / other major leagues have suspended games for the coming weeks. The Champions League could have / be suspended until next summer. In other sports, the first / fast grand prix of the Formula 1 season has been cancelled / cancel in Australia; and the National Hockey League and National Basketball League have been suspended until further / farther notice.

The biggest concerned / concern for sports fans is uncertainty over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan's government has called for reparations / preparations to continue as scheduled. The ministerial / minister responsible for the Olympics and Paralympics said it was "inconceivable" they would be cancel / cancelled. However, a member of the organizing committee said it was "more realistic" to postpone / postponement the Games. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Japan should considerable / consider postponing the Games. He said: "It's a shame / sham because they built some really beautiful buildings." Sport is already being / been hit in Japan. The nation's 15-day spring sumo tournament is being held / holding behind closed doors in Osaka and a national high school baseball tournament was / has been cancelled.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

T h_ g l_b_l s p r__ d _f C O V I D - 1 9 _s p l_y_n g h_v_c w_t h s p_r t s _v_n t s w_r l d w_d_. A f t_r t h_ W H O d_s_g n_t_d t h_ c_r_n_v_r_s _s _ p_n d_m_c , m_n y s p_r t s _s s_c__ t__ n s h_v_ t_k_n m__ s_r_s t_ c_r b t h_ s p r__ d _f t h_ v_r_s . M_j_r s p_r t_n g _v_n t s _r_ b__ n g s_s p_n d_d _n _ d__ l y b_s_s . E_r_p__ n f__ t b_l l _s c_m_n g t_ _ s t_n d s t_l l _s S p__ n ' s L_ L_g_, I t_l y ' s S_r__ A _n d _t h_r m_j_r l__ g__ s h_v_ s_s p_n d_d g_m_s f_r t h_ c_m_n g w__ k s . T h_ C h_m p__ n s L__ g__ c__ l d b_ s_s p_n d_d _n t_l n_x t s_m m_r . I n _t h_r s p_r t s , t h_ f_r s t g r_n d p r_x _f t h_ F_r m_l_ 1 s__ s_n h_s b__ n c_n c_l l_d _n A_s t r_l__ ; _n d t h_ N_t__ n_l H_c k_y L__ g__ _n d N_t__ n_l B_s k_t b_l l L__ g__ h_v_ b__ n s_s p_n d_d _n t_l f_r t h_r n_t_c_.

T h_ b_g g_s t c_n c_r n f_r s p_r t s f_n s _s _n c_r t__ n t y _v_r t h_ 2 0 2 0 T_k y_ O l y m p_c s . J_p_n ' s g_v_r n m_n t h_s c_l l_d f_r p r_p_r_t__ n s t_ c_n t_n__ _s s c h_d_l_d . T h_ m_n_s t_r r_s p_n s_b l_ f_r t h_ O l y m p_c s _n d P_r_l y m p_c s s__ d _t w_s "_n c_n c__ v_b l_" t h_y w__ l d b_ c_n c_l l_d . H_w_v_r , _ m_m b_r _f t h_ _r g_n_z_n g c_m m_t t__ s__ d _t w_s " m_r_ r__ l_s t_c " t_ p_s t p_n_ t h_ G_m_s . U . S . P r_s_d_n t D_n_l d T r_m p s_g g_s t_d J_p_n s h__ l d c_n s_d_r p_s t p_n_n g t h_ G_m_s . H_ s__ d : " I t ' s _ s h_m_ b_c__ s_ t h_y b__ l t s_m_ r__ l l y b___t_f_l b__ l d_n g s . " S p_r t _s _l r__ d y b__ n g h_t _n J_p_n . T h_ n_t__ n ' s 1 5 - d_y s p r_n g s_m_ t__ r n_m_n t _s b__ n g h_l d b_h_n d c l_s_d d__ r s _n O s_k_ _n d _ n_t__ n_l h_g h s c h__ l b_s_b_l l t__ r n_m_n t h_s b__ n c_n c_l l_d .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the global spread of covid19 is playing havoc with sports events worldwide after the who designated the coronavirus as a pandemic many sports associations have taken measures to curb the spread of the virus major sporting events are being suspended on a daily basis european football is coming to a standstill as spains la liga italys serie a and other major leagues have suspended games for the coming weeks the champions league could be suspended until next summer in other sports the first grand prix of the formula 1 season has been cancelled in australia and the national hockey league and national basketball league have been suspended until further notice

the biggest concern for sports fans is uncertainty over the 2020 tokyo olympics japans government has called for preparations to continue as scheduled the minister responsible for the olympics and paralympics said it was inconceivable they would be cancelled however a member of the organizing committee said it was more realistic to postpone the games us president donald trump suggested japan should consider postponing the games he said its a shame because they built some really beautiful buildings sport is already being hit in japan the nations 15day spring sumo tournament is being held behind closed doors in osaka and a national high school baseball tournament has been cancelled

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheglobalspreadofCOVID-19isplayinghavocwithsportseventsworl
dwide.AftertheWHOdesignatedthecoronavirusasapandemic,manys
portsassociationshavetakenmeasurestocurbthespreadofthevirus.M
ajorsportingeventsarebeingsuspendedonadailybasis.Europeanfoot
balliscomingtoastandstillasSpain'sLaLiga,Italy'sSerieAandothermaj
orleagueshavesuspendedgamesforthecomingweeks.TheChampion
sLeaguecouldbesuspendeduntilnextsummer.Inothersports,thefirst
grandprixoftheFormula1seasonhasbeencancelledinAustralia;andth
eNationalHockeyLeagueandNationalBasketballLeaguehavebeensus
pendeduntilfurthernotice.Thebiggestconcernforsportsfansisuncerta
intyoverthe2020TokyoOlympics.Japan'sgovernmenthascalledforpr
eparationstocontinueasscheduled.TheministerresponsiblefortheOly
mpicsandParalympicssaiditwas"inconceivable"theywouldbecancell
ed.However,amemberoftheorganizingcommitteesaiditwas"morere
alistic"topostponetheGames.U.S.PresidentDonaldTrumpsuggested
JapanshouldconsiderpostponingtheGames.Hesaid:"It'sashamebec
ausetheybuiltsomereallybeautifulbuildings."Sportisalreadybeinghit
inJapan.Thenation's15-dayspringsumotournamentisbeingheldbeh
indcloseddoorsinOsakaandanationalhighschoolbaseballtournament
hasbeencancelled.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

All public gatherings worldwide should be cancelled. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SPORTS: Make a poster about sports. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CANCEL: Write a magazine article about cancelling all sports events worldwide. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on COVID-19. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on the wisdom of holding sports events. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson on Sports

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS