The Reading / Listening - Tokyo Olympics - Level 6

Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."

The Games are due to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tokyo Olympics - Level 4  or  Tokyo Olympics - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/27/asia/tokyo-olympics-logistics-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-insurance-idUSKBN29W1OL
  • https://apnews.com/article/yoshihide-suga-thomas-bach-tokyo-sports-asia-coronavirus-pandemic-6f9df2d9985d9ec9167cb615c84d3ac9


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE TOKYO OLYMPICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Tokyo Olympics. 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?
       speculation / July / Olympics / president / organize / cancel / event / confident / life /
       due / nightmare / safety / athletes / media / vaccine / obsessed / hosting / disaster
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TOKYO 2021: Students A strongly believe the Tokyo Olympics should go ahead; Students B strongly believe they should be cancelled or postponed. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GLOBAL EVENTS: How important are these global events? What are the challenges in hosting them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Important

Challenges

The Olympics

 

 

The Oscars

 

 

The G8 Summit

 

 

The FIFA World Cup

 

 

UN Meetings

 

 

Pokemon Conference

 

 
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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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5. SPECULATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "speculation". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OLYMPICS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best Olympic sports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 100 metres
  • Javelin
  • Marathon
  • Archery
  • Judo
  • Weightlifting
  • Wrestling
  • Sailing

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. speculation a. Likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect; radical and extreme.
      2. vowed b. A piece of work to be done or undertaken.
      3. task c. Promised to do something.
      4. host d. Be successful with something that looked difficult to do.
      5. drastic e. The forming of a theory or opinions without firm evidence.
      6. proposition f. Be the place in which a party or sports events takes place.
      7. pull it off g. A statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion.

    Paragraph 2

      8. logistical h. A terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect.
      9. nightmare i. The official launch or introduction of a new product or service.
      10. spectator j. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
      11. amid k. A person who watches at a show, game, or other event.
      12. rollout l. Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.
      13. adamant m. Surrounded by; in the middle of.
      14. sacrifice n. Relating to or involving organization and planning.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. There has been little speculation about the Tokyo Olympics taking place. T / F
  2. The IOC president promised the Tokyo Olympics would take place.     T / F
  3. The president said the IOC is working around the clock.     T / F
  4. An IOC spokesperson said life has no certainties.     T / F
  5. Around 11,000 athletes are due to participate in the Tokyo Olympics.     T / F
  6. Over 25,000 athletes participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics.     T / F
  7. Japan's Prime Minister really want the Olympics to go ahead.     T / F
  8. An anti-Olympics group fears the Olympics will be sacrificed.     T / F

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

  1. speculation
  2. vowed
  3. task
  4. confident
  5. drastic
  6. logistical
  7. spectators
  8. adamant
  9. obsessed
  10. sacrifice
  1. assured
  2. job
  3. preoccupied
  4. organisational
  5. conjecture
  6. determined
  7. give up
  8. promised
  9. extreme
  10. watchers

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

  1. There has been much speculation
  2. Bach vowed that the event
  3. unless some drastic
  4. I hope that we're able to pull
  5. There are no certainties
  6. amid a third wave
  7. a vaccine
  8. Suga is adamant that the Games
  9. The government is obsessed
  10. the Olympics would sacrifice
  1. with hosting the Olympics
  2. changes occur
  3. of infections
  4. in life
  5. people's lives
  6. recently
  7. would go ahead
  8. rollout
  9. it off
  10. will take place

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
task
pull
speculation
confident
vowed
certainties
drastic
host

Will they or won't they? There has been much (1) _____________________ recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) _____________________ that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our (3) _____________________ is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) _____________________ a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "(5) _____________________ " the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (6) _____________________ changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to (7) _____________________ it off." He added: "There are no (8) _____________________ in life and what might happen with the virus."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
nightmare
clear
spectators
rollout
due
sacrifice
adamant
state

The Games are (9) _____________________ to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical (10) _____________________ for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and (11) _____________________. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a (12) _____________________ of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine (13) _____________________ will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is (14) _____________________ that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming (15) _____________________ during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would (16) _____________________ people's lives."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not ______
     a.  to rancid them
     b.  to cancel them
     c.  to parcel them
     d.  to resell them
2)  He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host ______
     a.  as safety event
     b.  a safes event
     c.  as safe event
     d.  a safe event
3)  IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said ______
     a.  he was confident
     b.  he was confidence
     c.  he was confidante
     d.  he was confiding
4)  this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to ______
     a.  pulls it off
     b.  pulled it off
     c.  pull it off
     d.  pulling it off
5)  There are no certainties in life and what might happen ______
     a.  with the ballots
     b.  with the walrus
     c.  with the rebels
     d.  with the virus

6)  It is a logistical nightmare ______
     a.  for authority
     b.  for authorities
     c.  for authorise
     d.  for authorised
7)  have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's ______
     a.  medium and dictators
     b.  media and speck tractors
     c.  media and spec tractors
     d.  media and spectators
8)  currently under a state of emergency amid a third ______
     a.  weave of infections
     b.  waive of infections
     c.  way of infections
     d.  wave of infections
9)  an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The ______"
     a.  government isn't obsessed
     b.  government is obsess
     c.  government is obsessed
     d.  government is obsessive
10)  clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would ______
     a.  sacrifice people's life
     b.  sacrifice people's leaves
     c.  sacrifice people's loaves
     d.  sacrifice people's lives

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Will they or won't they? There has (1) ____________________ recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) ____________________ event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and (3) ____________________ them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) ____________________ event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (5) ____________________, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are (6) ____________________ life and what might happen with the virus."

The Games are (7) ____________________ on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to (8) ____________________ of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency (9) ____________________ wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (10) ____________________ the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is (11) ____________________ the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say there has been a lot of recently?
  2. What is Thomas Bach's position within the IOC?
  3. When did Thomas Bach say the IOC is working?
  4. What did Dick Pound say would have to happen to stop the Games?
  5. Where did a spokesperson say there are no certainties?
  6. What kind of nightmare does the article call the Games?
  7. How many journalists attended the 2016 Games in Rio?
  8. What two things might create better conditions for the Games?
  9. How does Japan's Prime Minister feel about the Games taking place?
  10. What did an anti-Olympics group say the Games would sacrifice?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say there has been a lot of recently?
a) coronavirus cases
b) sport
c) speculation
d) arguments
2) What is Thomas Bach's position within the IOC?
a) president
b) CEO
c) secretary
d) press officer
3) When did Thomas Bach say the IOC is working?
a) weekends
b) day and night
c) weekdays
d) 12 hours a day
4) What did Dick Pound say would have to happen to stop the Games?
a) a serious outbreak
b) an earthquake
c) a travel ban
d) drastic changes
5) Where did a spokesperson say there are no certainties?
a) at the Olympics
b) in Tokyo
c) in life
d) at home

6) What kind of nightmare does the article call the Games?
a) a terrible nightmare
b) a logistical nightmare
c) a sporting nightmare
d) a scary nightmare
7) How many journalists attended the 2016 Games in Rio?
a) just over 25,000
b) around 25,000
c) just fewer than 25,000
d) more than 25,000
8) What two things might create better conditions for the Games?
a) spectators and TV audiences
b) a vaccine and warmer weather
c) more money and consumer confidence
d) world records and top athletes
9) How does Japan's Prime Minister feel about the Games taking place?
a) worried
b) adamant
c) sad
d) ecstatic

10) What did an anti-Olympics group say the Games would sacrifice?
a) people's lives
b) records
c) safety
d) athletes

Role play

Role  A – 100 Metres
You think the 100 metres is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, judo or wrestling.

Role  B – Marathon
You think the marathon is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the 100 metres, judo or wrestling.

Role  C – Judo
You think judo is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, the 100 metres or wrestling.

Role  D – Wrestling
You think wrestling is the best Olympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the marathon, judo or the 100 metres.

After reading / listening

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

'Tokyo'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'Olympics'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • speculation
    • president
    • task
    • night
    • confident
    • occur
    • nightmare
    • 2016
    • third
    • safer
    • obsessed
    • disaster

    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 - Tokyo Olympics

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Tokyo'?
    3. What do you know about Tokyo?
    4. Should the Tokyo Olympics go ahead in July?
    5. How interested are you in the Olympics?
    6. Should the Games go ahead but without spectators?
    7. What damage would be done if the Games did not go ahead?
    8. How safe do you think the Games would be?
    9. How do you think the athletes feel?
    10. Are there any certainties in life?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'Olympics'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about the Olympics?
    5. Why are the Games a 'logistical nightmare'?
    6. How has the coronavirus affected you?
    7. How would cancelling the Games affect Tokyo?
    8. Do you think the Games could 'sacrifice people's lives'?
    9. What will the world be like in a year from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the IOC?

    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)

    Will they or won't they? There has been (1) ____ speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (2) ____ that the event would (3) ____ ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to (4) ____ a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some (5) ____ changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to (6) ____ it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."

    The Games are (7) ____ to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to (8) ____ the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently (9) ____ a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is (10) ____ that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed (11) ____ hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     many     (b)     loads     (c)     lots     (d)     much    
    2. (a)     cowed     (b)     wowed     (c)     bowed     (d)     vowed    
    3. (a)     come     (b)     go     (c)     give     (d)     take    
    4. (a)     party     (b)     occasion     (c)     host     (d)     celebration    
    5. (a)     caustic     (b)     mastic     (c)     drastic     (d)     plastic    
    6. (a)     pull     (b)     push     (c)     nudge     (d)     tug    
    7. (a)     schedule     (b)     due     (c)     plan     (d)     event    
    8. (a)     secure     (b)     security     (c)     secures     (d)     secured    
    9. (a)     below     (b)     under     (c)     above     (d)     over    
    10. (a)     remnant     (b)     incumbent     (c)     adamant     (d)     dormant    
    11. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     with     (d)     to    
    12. (a)     sport     (b)     virus     (c)     vaccines     (d)     lives

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. There has been much cpeialusotn
    2. evwdo that the event would go ahead
    3. IOC eporespksson
    4. unless some ardtisc changes occur
    5. this is a manageable oorstiippon
    6. There are no areitnitces in life

    Paragraph 2

    1. It is a olsitcgial nightmare
    2. the world's media and scattpeosr
    3. amid a third wave of fteniicnos
    4. a cavncie rollout
    5. Suga is adaanmt that the Games will take place
    6. srfiiacce people's lives

    Put the text back together

    (...)  ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're
    (...)  the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended
    (...)  able to pull it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."
    (...)  night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go
    (...)  president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to
    (  1  ) Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently about whether or
    (...)  not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
    (...)  infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
    (...)  the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of
    (...)  is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo
    (...)  organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and
    (...)  The Games are due to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to secure
    (...)  said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming
    (...)  clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. been   has   There   speculation   much   recently   .
    2. go   vowed   event   that   Bach   the   would   ahead   .
    3. was   confident   Games   He   would   go   the   ahead   .
    4. able   hope   we're   to   pull   I   it   off   .
    5. life   might   what   in   Certainties   and   happen   .
    6. nightmare   logistical   It   is   a   authorities   .   for
    7. is   Tokyo   under   state   a   of   currently   emergency   .
    8. the   adamant   Games   is   Suga   will   place   .   take
    9. is   government   The   the   hosting   with   obsessed   Olympics   .
    10. clear   becoming   It's   this   coronavirus   during   disaster   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Will they or won't they? There has been many / much speculation recently about whether or not / nor the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed / wowed that the event would come / go ahead. He said: "Our task is for / to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe / safety event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying / said: "I think unless some caustic / drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off / on." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus / viral."

    The Games are due / duet to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authority / authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athleticism / athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended / intended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently over / under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rolling / rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant / remnant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed to / with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during / between this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice / sacrificial people's lives."

    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)

    W_ll th_y _r w_n't th_y? Th_r_ h_s b__n m_ch sp_c_l_t__n r_c_ntly _b__t wh_th_r _r n_t th_ T_ky_ _lymp_cs w__ld t_k_ pl_c_ _n J_ly. _n W_dn_sd_y, th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l _lymp_c C_mm_tt__ (__C) pr_s_d_nt Th_m_s B_ch v_w_d th_t th_ _v_nt w__ld g_ _h__d. H_ s__d: "__r t_sk _s t_ _rg_n_z_ th_ _lymp_c G_m_s _nd n_t t_ c_nc_l th_m." H_ _dd_d th_t th_ __C _s w_rk_ng "d_y _nd n_ght" t_ h_st _ s_f_ _v_nt. __C sp_k_sp_rs_n D_ck P__nd s__d h_ w_s "c_nf_d_nt" th_ G_m_s w__ld g_ _h__d, s_y_ng: "_ th_nk _nl_ss s_m_ dr_st_c ch_ng_s _cc_r, th_s _s _ m_n_g__bl_ pr_p_s_t__n _nd _ h_p_ th_t w_'r_ _bl_ t_ p_ll _t _ff." H_ _dd_d: "Th_r_ _r_ n_ c_rt__nt__s _n l_f_ _nd wh_t m_ght h_pp_n w_th th_ v_r_s."

    Th_ G_m_s _r_ d__ t_ _p_n _n th_ 23rd _f J_ly. _t _s _ l_g_st_c_l n_ghtm_r_ f_r __th_r_t__s, wh_ h_v_ t_ s_c_r_ th_ s_f_ty _f 11,000 _thl_t_s, th_ w_rld's m_d__ _nd sp_ct_t_rs. M_r_ th_n 25,000 j__rn_l_sts _tt_nd_d th_ R__ d_ J_n__r_ G_m_s _n 2016. T_ky_ _s c_rr_ntly _nd_r _ st_t_ _f _m_rg_ncy _m_d _ th_rd w_v_ _f _nf_ct__ns. _ff_c__ls _r_ h_p_f_l w_rm_r w__th_r _nd _ v_cc_n_ r_ll__t w_ll s__ s_f_r c_nd_t__ns. J_p_n's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r Y_sh_h_d_ S_g_ _s _d_m_nt th_t th_ G_m_s w_ll t_k_ pl_c_. H_w_v_r, _n _nt_-_lymp_cs gr__p _n T_ky_ s__d: "Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _s _bs_ss_d w_th h_st_ng th_ _lymp_cs. _t's b_c_m_ng cl__r d_r_ng th_s c_r_n_v_r_s d_s_st_r th_t th_ _lymp_cs w__ld s_cr_f_c_ p__pl_'s l_v_s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    will they or wont they there has been much speculation recently about whether or not the tokyo olympics would take place in july on wednesday the international olympic committee ioc president thomas bach vowed that the event would go ahead he said our task is to organize the olympic games and not to cancel them he added that the ioc is working day and night to host a safe event ioc spokesperson dick pound said he was confident the games would go ahead saying i think unless some drastic changes occur this is a manageable proposition and i hope that were able to pull it off he added there are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus

    the games are due to open on the 23rd of july it is a logistical nightmare for authorities who have to secure the safety of 11000 athletes the worlds media and spectators more than 25000 journalists attended the rio de janeiro games in 2016 tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions japans prime minister yoshihide suga is adamant that the games will take place however an antiolympics group in tokyo said the government is obsessed with hosting the olympics its becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the olympics would sacrifice peoples lives

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Willtheyorwon'tthey?Therehasbeenmuchspeculationrecentlyabout
    whetherornottheTokyoOlympicswouldtakeplaceinJuly.OnWednesd
    ay,theInternationalOlympicCommittee(IOC)presidentThomasBach
    vowedthattheeventwouldgoahead.Hesaid:"Ourtaskistoorganizethe
    OlympicGamesandnottocancelthem."HeaddedthattheIOCisworking
    "dayandnight"tohostasafeevent.IOCspokespersonDickPoundsaidhe
    was"confident"theGameswouldgoahead,saying:"Ithinkunlesssome
    drasticchangesoccur,thisisamanageablepropositionandIhopethatw
    e'reabletopullitoff."Headded:"Therearenocertaintiesinlifeandwhat
    mighthappenwiththevirus."TheGamesareduetoopenonthe23rdofJu
    ly.Itisalogisticalnightmareforauthorities,whohavetosecurethesafet
    yof11,000athletes,theworld'smediaandspectators.Morethan25,000
    journalistsattendedtheRiodeJaneiroGamesin2016.Tokyoiscurrently
    underastateofemergencyamidathirdwaveofinfections.Officialsareh
    opefulwarmerweatherandavaccinerolloutwillseesaferconditions.Jap
    an'sPrimeMinisterYoshihideSugaisadamantthattheGameswilltakepl
    ace.However,ananti-OlympicsgroupinTokyosaid:"Thegovernmenti
    sobsessedwithhostingtheOlympics.It'sbecomingclearduringthiscor
    onavirusdisasterthattheOlympicswouldsacrificepeople'slives."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The Tokyo Olympics should go ahead in July as planned. Discuss.

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    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. THE TOKYO OLYMPICS: Make a poster about the Tokyo Olympics. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TOKYO 2022: Write a magazine article about postponing the the Tokyo Olympics again until 2022. 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 the Tokyo Olympics. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep the Games safe. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    Answers

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

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