Chariots of Fire: Olympic Games

It is a great opportunity to talk about the Olympics, especially now that they will be held in Rio. Let's have fun!

I. Discuss the questions in groups:

How is a country chosen to hold the games?

Is holding the games a financial incentive?

Is it good for the country that holds the events?

Which Olympic sports do you like to watch on TV?

Do you think that the Olympics are important, or have there been too many negative things (use of performance-enhancing drugs, corrupt judges) in recent history?

Should professional athletes be allowed in the Olympics?

Do you think it's fair that an athlete who lives in one country and competes in another country can come back to his/her home country to be part of the Olympic team?

Do countries spend too much time on the Olympics?

If you had to change one Olympic sport, which sport would you take away and which sport would you add?

What is the most difficult Olympic sport?

Should all sports be included? For example, the horse riding event which means transporting the horses all over the world?

http://iteslj.org/questions/olympic.html

1. In which city were the first Modern Olympics held?
• Munich
• Barcelona
• Athens
• Olympia

2. Who has won the maximum number of gold medals at a single Olympic Games in the history of the Olympics?
• James Connelly
• Mark Spitz
• Abebe Bikila
• Michael Phelps

3. Who set a record for the most gold medals in a single Olympic Games at the 1972 Munich Olympics?

• James Connelly
• Nadia Comaneci
• Abebe Bikila
• Mark Spitz

4. What is the distance of the marathon race in the Olympics?
• 21 miles 585 yards
• 22 miles 855 yards
• 24 miles 835 yards
• 26 miles 385 yards

5. Which country's team always marches last in the March Past at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics?
• Greece
• USA
• host country
• Zimbabwe

6. When was the first time the Olympic Games moved to Asia?
• 1964
• 1976
• 1988
• 1992 

7. Which country's team remained undefeated in field hockey between 1928 and 1956?
• India
• Pakistan
• France
• Italy 

8. In which city were the Olympics in 2004 held?
• Athens
• Los Angeles
• Mexico City
• Tokyo 

9. Which sport was back to the Olympic Games after 112 years in Rio 2016?

                                                                              Golf

Football

Rugby

Shuttle

10. In which Olympics did the world-famous American boxer Muhammad Ali win the light heavyweight boxing title?
• 1960 Rome Olympics
• 1972 Munich Olympics
• 1976 Montreal Olympics
• 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 

1. Athens
2. Michael Fred Phelps of the USA won eight swimming gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He holds the record for the maximum number of gold medals at a single Olympic Games in the history of the Olympics surpassing the earlier record of Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
3. Mark Spitz of the USA won seven swimming gold medals, including four individual, all in record times at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Michael Phelps of the USA won eight swimming gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and thus set a new record for the maximum number of gold medals in a single Olympic Games in the history of the Olympics.
4. The distance of the marathon race is 26 miles 385 yards or 42.19 km.
5. Greece is always first and the hosting nation is always last in the Parade of Nations (i.e., the March Past order) at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

6. The Olympic Games moved to Asia for the first time in 1964. At Tokyo, Japan, the torch was lit by Yoshinori Sakai who was born in Hiroshima only an hour before the atomic explosion took place in 1945.

7. The Indian men's hockey team was unbeaten in the Olympics from 1928 to 1956, winning six gold medals in a row. India has won a total of  11 Olympic medals (8 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals) in field hockey.

8. The 2004 Olympics were held in Athens, Greece.

9. Golf

10. Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on 17 January 1942) won the Olympic light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. He lit the torch to start the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/quiz/olympics.html?question_hide



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CHARIOTS OF FIRE

The Good Lie & Chloe and Theo: Adjusting to a New Culture - Culture Shock

Both films are a must. I love the acting and the cultural aspects shown in the movies. Don't miss them.

I. Work in pairs:

1. Have you ever traveled to another country? If so, talk about the cultural differences that you experimented there. If you have never been abroad, talk about a city you have seen in films and mention what cultural differences you managed to see. 

2. Would you like to live in the following places to experiment the way those people live? Explain why.

- New York City

- Tokyo

- Rio de Janeiro

- Saudi Arabia

- A tribe of indians in Africa

- Russia

- Mexico

3. What are some of the difficulties you would face in those places in terms of culture?

4. What is a good definition for culture shock?

II. Read the definition below and say whether you agree/disagree with it and why.

Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. 

- See more at: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/adjusting-new-culture#sthash.wSgDEXpw.dpuf

III. Read the following tips: 

Ways to Diminish Feelings of Culture Shock

https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/adjusting-new-culture

"Plunge" into your host culture and wrestle with the differences.

Keep an open mind; it is natural to have preconceived ideas and beliefs that come into question while abroad.

Athletic activities like team sports or taking walks may be helpful.

Get to know others at your host school or organization.

Do not isolate yourself.

Find a local person with whom you can discuss your frustrations and encounters.

Learn as much as you can about your host culture.

Maintain a support structure with others, particularly those going through the same experience. However, do not retreat into a clique" to avoid the discomfort of culture shock.

Keep a journal. Record your impressions of new experiences and the transformations that are occurring within you.

IV. Watch the segments below (if you prefer, you may watch the full version - video 3)and discuss the following items.

- What are the main characters' main cultural differences from Americans'? Talk about both THE GOOD LIFE and CHLOE AND THEO

- What happened in the segments?

- What would you suggest they do?

The Good Lie 1

The Good Lie - Part 2

The Good Lie - Full Version

Chloe and  Theo 

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CHLOE AND THEO

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GOOD LIE - FULL VERSION