How many different types of sports disciplines* can you name that are in the Olympic Games.
*discipline: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity. (Refer to your dictionary for other meanings of this word)
Listed below are very brief explanations of how good you must to become an Olympian* and how each sport is rated according to its popularity.
*Olympian: a sports person who has been selected to represent his/her country in the Olympic Games.
The teacher cuts up the each of the different
sports descriptions below and give one to each pair of students. Click
to see the rest of the Mixer
Exercise:
Archery - GO FOR IT!
Not many Israelis play the sport of Olympic-style archery. You might
want to try this if you're a good shot in video games. Coolest parts: seeing
the arrow thump into the bull's-eye; having a bow with funny objects on
it to help you shoot..
Badminton - GO FOR IT!
Few Israelis play this game of Olympic-style badminton. You might want
to try this if you're great at swatting flies. Coolest parts: hitting the
shuttlecock, (or birdie), almost 200 miles per hour; developing cat-quick
reflexes.
Boxing - HARD
Only men compete in Olympic boxing. Skills needed: quick hands, good
footwork. Hard parts: It hurts to get hit. Holding your arms up for a long
time is tough. You have to find people to practice with who don't mind
getting punched. Did you know: Olympic matches last nine minutes (three
three-minute rounds).
Diving - HARD
No more than four men and four women make the U.S. team. There are
only two events: springboard and platform. You might want to try this if
you're not afraid of heights. Coolest parts: diving off the 10-meter board
- it's as high as a three-story building! Diving into the water with barely
any splash.
Judo - GO FOR IT!
This has become a popular sport in Israel since we won our first ever
medals in this sport.. Arad won the silver medal in the ladie's event and
Smadja won a bronze in the men's event.. Seven men and seven women make
the Olympic team in different weight classes. Hard part: You can't get
mad when someone throws you to the mat. Coolest part: earning belts of
different colors as you improve. Did you know: The Japanese word judo means
"the gentle way."
Gymnastics - AVERAGE
Body size: Most gymnasts are small but strong. Hard parts: Top gymnasts
practice as much as seven hours a day. You might have to move away from
home to train with a better coach. Coolest parts: "sticking" your landing
(landing solidly on both feet, without taking a step or falling), being
as flexible as a rubber band. You might want to try this if you love to
do somersaults.
Rhythmic Gymnastics - GO FOR IT!
In this sport, girls (no boys are allowed) perform dance-like moves
using a big hoop, a ribbon, an eight-inch ball, and wood or plastic clubs.
Coolest parts: twirling a 20-foot ribbon around your body, throwing a ball
into the air and catching it on your arms - which are extended behind your
back!
Modern Pentathlon - GO FOR IT!
This sport combines five skills: fencing, swimming, pistol shooting,
running, and horseback riding. At the Olympics, only men compete in this
event.. Hard part: You need a horse, a pool, a pistol, and a fencing partner
to practice with. Coolest parts: becoming good at five different skills,
hitting the bull's-eye on a pistol target 10 meters away.
Soccer - AVERAGE
Tons of kids in Israel play soccer. You have to be a great player to
make the Israel team. In 1996, women's soccer was an Olympic sport for
the first time. Hard part: You have to be in shape - soccer players run
as much as 10 miles in one game. Did you know: More than two billion people
watched the 1994 World Cup on television.
Swimming - HARD
There are 32 different events (16 for men, 16 for women) to try out
for. Hard parts: You have to swim five or six hours a day. You smell like
a pool. Coolest parts: seeing your times get faster eating a lot because
you train so hard Did you know: Most swimmers shave their body hair before
big competitions so that they'll slip more quickly through the water.
Tennis - SUPERHARD!
The top pro players compete in the Olympics. Coolest part: serving
an ace. Did you know: Men used to play in long pants and long-sleeved shirts,
and women played in long dresses.
Track and Field - HARD
There are 24 men's events and 20 women's events. Three athletes usually
make the team in each individual event. You might want to try this if you
love to run, jump, or throw. Coolest parts: being called the world's fastest
man or woman after winning the Olympic 100-meter dash, pole-vaulting nearly
20 feet high or throwing a javalin furtherest..
Weightlifting - AVERAGE
In the Olympics, only men compete. Each man tries to lift the most
weight above his head. There are 10 weight divisions, from 119 pounds to
238 pounds and over. Hard parts: getting strong enough to lift two or three
times your own body weight. You need lots of weights and a "spotter" (someone
to watch or help you). Coolest parts: performing a perfect "snatch" (lifting
the bar from the ground and over your head in one smooth motion) letting
out a huge roar as you push the weight over your head.
Yachting - AVERAGE
Men and women compete in eight classes, or types, of boats. You need:
strong arms and back, good sailing technique. You might want to try this
if you always dreamed of being the captain of a ship . . . or if you love
windsurfing, which is also an Olympic event. Hard part: Learning how to
sail into the wind.
THE SPORTS OF THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES (one copy for each student)
SPORT | RATING |
OTHER INFORMATION - Hard parts, cool parts and more facts about the sports |
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