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related terms, such as social sport, recreational sport, physical activity, physical education, physical literacy, exercise, etc. that, depending upon the context in which they are applied, may look like ‘sport’.

An activity we perceive as sport in one context may not be in another context, sport takes on many forms and our notion of “what is sport” is continually changing. There are a number of factors influencing our willingness to engage in sport, these factors also shape our perception of what is (or is not) sport. What we perceive as ‘sport’ in one instance may not be in another; sport takes on many forms and is constantly changing based upon societal norms, trends, and new directions.

‘Sport’ seems to have three qualifying elements competition, rules and organisations that set it apart from similar looking physical activities that are ‘not sport’. The degree of organisational structure that surrounds and influences an activity usually helps to distinguish whether an activity is classified as ‘sport’ or ‘active recreation’ or ‘physical activity’ or ‘exercise’ or any number of other terms.

For example, a group of people who meet in a common place (e.g. park, sports field, or backyard) and enter into a game of football would be engaged in ‘social sport’. ‘Social’ because the element of organisational supervision is minimal, but ‘sport’ because the elements of competition (albeit the friendly nature of such competition) and rules are present. If the same group of individuals were registered in a football club and trained/played in an organised and structured competition under the supervision of a referee; they would be engaged in ‘organised sport’. In each case the individuals may perform the same skills, produce the same physical exertion, and may realise the same personal benefits (e.g. health, fitness, personal satisfaction, etc.).

The precise definition of what separates a sport from other leisure activities varies between sources. The closest to an international agreement on a definition is provided by Sport Accord, which is the association for all the largest international sports federations, and is therefore the de facto representative of international sport. SportAccord uses the following criteria, determining that a sport should:

have an element of competition;

be in no way harmful to any living creature;

not rely on equipment provided by a single supplier;

not rely on any “luck” element specifically designed into the sport Besides, a sport is ...;

a human activity involving physical skill and exertion;

governed by a set of rules or customs;

undertaken competitively and capable of achieving a result.

There are many activities that are commonly debated whether they are sports, such as fishing, dancing, cheerleading, golf, equestrian, motorsports, plus many more. Based on the above criteria, are these sports?

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The examples of golf and cheerleading easily fit the definition of sports when in the competitive form. Fishing and dancing for most people is a pastime and not a sport, but there are structured competitions with these activities which make it a sport in that form. In the case of equestrian and motorsports, there is physical exertion by the riders, but the horse and car are primarily doing the work. On the other hand, there is plenty of skill involved and it ticks all the other boxes. There will always be activities that are borderline and debateable whether they are sports or not. In that case, maybe the final defining point should be as per the definition by the Australian Sports Commission – it is a sport if it is ...

“generally accepted as being a sport”.

Generally, sport can be divided into: traditional club sport, social sport, recreational sport.

(Abridged and edited from: http://www.topendsports.com/sport/what-is-a-sport.htm; https://www.reference.com/sports-active-lifestyle/sport-recreation-89a5e16b8afd67b6#; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport; https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/knowledge_ base/sport_participation/Sport_a_new_fit/what_is_sport)

Do you understand all the ideas and definitions of the text? Do you agree with all of them? Which did you particularly like?

II.

1. You are going to read an article exploring various reasons for liking and disliking sport. Match these verbs from the text with the words they go with.

Which of the 12 expressions explain why people like sport and which explain why people dislike it?

Compare your ideas with the partner. How many other reasons for liking and disliking sport can you think of?

2. As you read this article, think about these questions.

a.Are any of the reasons for liking and disliking sport you thought of mentioned?

b.Are any other reasons mentioned?

c.Which reasons do you agree/disagree with? Why?

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Keeping the sports-haters onside

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when a country wins its bid to host any significant sporting event like the Olympic Games or World Cup the news is not always met with universal delight. Whilst the officials hail the victory as a great moment and one which would boost civic pride, increase tourism and employment opportunities, and result in better housing, sporting and transport facilities, a significant proportion of the population greets the news with a mixture of cynicism and dismay. Fears of massive hike in council tax are rife and pessimists point to the mountains of debts that the countries are saddled with after they host such events as the Olympics for example.

However, the voices of dissent also have other issues apart from the drain on public resources, and many of them revolve around a general dislike of sport. It is undoubtedly true that sport has come to dominate the media in an absolutely unprecedented manner and, should you desire to do so, it would be quite possible to spend almost all of your waking hours channel-surfing from one sporting event to the next.

Whilst football rules the roost on terrestrial TV, cable and satellite bring everything from trampolining to archery to the “world’s strongest man competition” into living rooms across the land. Some point to the mindnumbing effect this has on viewers: non-stop sport tends to mean other issues fail to grab the public’s attention and this can prevent far more serious matters from being discussed, or even thought about.

Others, however, lament the ruthless, competitive edge that the generally male-dominated world of sport helps foster in the young. Some women see sport not only as a pathetic conversational crutch which their male counterparts use to get them through day-to-day social exchanges, but also as a more malign influence. The combination of cut-throat big business muscling in on sport, athletes being portrayed as heroes and a win-at-any costs mentality is seen as deeply unsavoury. Indeed, today’s generation of young footballing superstars have been blamed for everything from foul language in schools to binge-drinking and even to an over-emphasis on consumerism.

Despite all this, sport’s ever-increasing popularity is obviously not for nothing. Whether as a viewer or as an active participant, sport offers drama, tension, escapism and release for countless millions around the world and can provide salutary lessons in life: how to pick yourself up again after defeat, how to focus on a long-term goal. On top of this, whilst sport can obviously fuel tensions and spark violence, it can also serve to bring disparate groups of people together and heal long-standing rifts.

Furthermore, as anyone who’s ever been abroad equipped with almost none of the local language, but with a basic knowledge of the game can tell you, perhaps even more than English, it is football that is truly the global language now. Taxi rides and train journeys from Moscow to Mozambique have been en-

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livened by little more than shared smiles and the words “Pele”, “Maradona” or “Zidane”!

However, there is a further, far less obvious reason for keeping at least one eye on the world of sport and that is the vast impact sport has had on the English language. A whole area of metaphorical and idiomatic language has moved from a sporting context into much broader usage. For instance, “in the run-up to” an election, the opinion polls may show two parties “running neck and neck” – both polling very similar high percentages. Another idiom taken from the field of horse-racing is “horses for courses” – meaning you need to choose the right people for particular activities because everyone has different skills. Boxing fans are more likely to understand that when you “throw in the towel”, you admit defeat and that if you manage to escape from an unpleasant situation at just the right moment, you’re “saved by the bell”. Similarly, keen swimmers are far more likely to grasp that being “out of your depth” means things are too difficult for you, whilst “swimming against the tide” involves refusing to do what everyone else is doing and trying to come up with your own way of doing things instead. Surely for these reasons, if for no others, sport is worthy of our attention.

(Abridged from: “Innovations Advanced. Coursebook”. P. 112–113)

3.Explain what is meant by the phrases in bold in the text.

4.Did you know any of the sports idioms mentioned in the article? Check each other by picking up the idioms from the last paragraph of the text and asking each other to explain the meaning of them and translate them.

5.Together in the group pick out and agree on the key sentences of the text that convey the main ideas. The number of sentences should equal the number of students in your group. Each sentence should be given to one student in the group. A student should write down this sentence on top of the sheet of paper. Write your translation of the sentence a bit below. Fold the paper so that the next person won’t see it. Pass the paper to a partner clock wise. He should write down his/her variant of translation, fold the paper again and pass it over to the next partner. Do this until you get “your” sentence. Unfold the paper. Read all the variants of translation. Choose the best translation or make up a new one using the ideas from the list. Together read all the translations. Share your opinions on them.

(Alternative task. If you have a large group, split into small groups of 5–6.)

6.Can you think of any recent sport news that’s been greeted with …

cynicism? widespread joy? universal outrage? astonishment?

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III.

1. Read a composition by Mike Burke, a university student from Oxford, about his favourite sport. While reading it find answers to the questions:

a.In what ways are squash and tennis similar and different?

b.What are the advantages of squash compared to other sports?

c.Why do some people consider it dangerous?

Squash

You don’t have to be a yuppie to play squash: if you play at a public sport centre, rather than a private club, you soon discover that it’s a game that everybody plays. Taking part in a league, you can meet people from all walks of life, and it’s quite normal for men and women to play each other. However, unlike tennis, you can’t play doubles, so it’s not such a sociable game.

The reason why squash is such fun is that it’s so easy to play. Beginners can have an enjoyable game right away and can get involved in the tactics and strategy of the game. With tennis, where it’s a major achievement for a beginner even to hit the ball back over the net, you have to be quite professional before you can do this. With squash, returning the ball is easy and you don’t have to waste time retrieving all the balls that have been hit out – you only need one ball to play with and you can play at any time of the day or night and in all weathers. You don’t even need to be strong to play: a soft, cunning service can be just as effective as a powerful, fast one. It does help to be fit and agile, though, because even though a game only lasts half an hour or so, during that time you’re constantly using your energy and you don’t have time for a rest while your opponent is off the court hunting for lost balls.

Perhaps it’s because squash is such an energetic game that it’s thought to be dangerous, and admittedly there is a risk of minor injuries like strains and sprains, or getting hit by your opponents racket, because both players have to cover the whole court and sometimes get into each other’s way. But if you’re careful, and don’t overdo it, it’s no more dangerous than any other sport.

(From: “Sport. Пособие по развитию навыков устной речи”. C. 17–18)

2.Describe the game of squash after reading Mike’s composition using the questions:

1.Where is it played?

2.What is it played with?

3.What do players wear?

4.Who can you play it with?

5.What are the basic rules?

6.Would you like to ask Mike more questions about this game to get a better idea of it?

3. Read an interview of Alexander Colhoun, a photographer from Maryland, the USA, whose favourite sport is mountaineering, and answer the questions:

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1.What qualities should one possess to practise mountaineering?

2.What are the advantages of this sport?

3.Alexander Colhoun says that mountaineering is not expensive. Do you share his opinion? Do you need a lot of equipment and special clothes for mountaineering?

4.What are the disadvantages of this sport?

Mountain Madness

How did you decide to travel to Nepal and how much money did it cost?

I like to go out and to challenge myself by doing new and different things. The trip cost about $ 2000 for the mountaineering, including the equipment.

It’s not expensive if that’s what you love doing. I was also lucky to get some sponsorship. I made an arrangement with a Japanese company called Goldwin Inc. In exchange for my photographs of the trip, they provided me with some excellent equipment. I got clothes, boots, tents, sleeping bags and ropes, etc.

What’s the most difficult thing about climbing?

The most important thing for a climber is to have total trust in their climbing partner.

When you are tied together on a mountain, your life depends on his step. You are tied together on a rope. You must trust your partner to help you.

What happens if someone makes a mistake?

The other people have to react very quickly. Near the top of the mountain there’s a narrow ridge leading up to the summit. There’s a small path, about half a metre wide, where you can walk. On both sides there’s nothing, only rocks and snow for thousands of metres down. Imagine that my partner made a mistake and fell off one side.

Immediately my reaction would be to jump off the other side of the mountain to balance out his fall.

My first reaction in that situation would be to try to hold the rope and stop him from falling!

No, you couldn’t hold his weight! You have to actually jump off the mountain, if you don’t jump, you are really dead. That’s a strange thought.

What was the most dangerous moment on the climb?

Coming down from the summit, some snow melted and the ice wall that I was climbing collapsed. I was swinging around on the rope wondering if it would hold, luckily it did. I’m here today.

How did you feel when you reached the top?

It was like nothing I’d ever experienced, clear skies and beautiful sun, sparkling in the distance, like nothing I’d ever seen before.

(From: “Sport. Пособие по развитию навыков устной речи”. C. 19–20)

4. Compare the information given by Mike and Alexander on their favourite sports. What points do they stress, what details do they give, etc.? Use the following words and expressions for comparison:

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5.Look at the list of adjectives below and in pairs discuss which sports they describe best of all.

Give reasons.

• demanding • exhilarating • hazardous • rough

• extreme • individual • indoor • adventurous

• invigorating

A: I believe that squash is one of the most demanding sports because you play one on one and you only have your own stamina and strength to rely on.

В: True, but I think that wrestling and weightlifting are also very demanding because you need to be very strong.

6.Read these statements and decide how far you agree with each. Then discuss your ideas with a partner:

1.All children should participate in competitive sport.

2.There is no such thing as non-competitive sport.

3.Sporting competition creates divisions.

4.Sport helps to teach valuable lessons in life.

5.Sport distracts people from focusing on more important issues.

6.International sport breeds an unhealthy kind of nationalism.

7.It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part.

8.Violent sports like boxing have no place in civilized society.

IV. On Your Own

1. Describe any game or sport. Let your partners guess which game/sport you are describing. You can use the plan below. Pre-teach any vocabulary if necessary (translate or explain the meaning of any new words and phrases)!

1.Number of players (per team).

2.Equipment necessary.

3.Place where it is played/practised.

4.How to play and win.

5.Length of game.

6.Some of the rules/requirements.

7.The qualities it requires from the sportsman (strength, endurance, quickness of reaction, courage etc.).

2. Find 5 idioms with a sporting context. Ask your group mates if they know the meaning of them. Help them if necessary. Find sentences with those idioms. Read them to your group mates, let them translate the sentences into Russian. Check the translation.

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3. Complete the idioms with the words in the box. Have you found/used any of them while doing ex. 2 above? Translate the sentences into Russian.

1.I’ll give it my best ………., and if it doesn’t work out, then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

2.I’ve told you what I think. The ball’s now in your ………. . It’s up to you what to do about things.

3.When I found out they’d broken the contract behind our backs, I thought,

“Two can play that ………. !”

4.I’ll say one thing for her. She’s very direct. I mean, she says exactly what she thinks. She doesn’t pull any ………. .

5.Chris is over from Boston next week. It’ll be good to touch ………. . It’s been quite a while since I saw him last.

4. Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3N1TK2tXhg where famous sports people make statements about sport. Write down the statements and get ready to discuss the statements with your group mates. Do you agree with all of them?

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Module 2

SPORT FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

I. Lead-in

Discuss the following questions in the group:

1.Do you like watching sport events? What sports do you like watching? How does watching a sport compare with active participation?

2.Do you usually watch sport events on TV/your PC/tablet/smartphone etc. or at the stadiums/athletic arenas etc.? What does it depend on?

3.If you ever watched a sport event alive, what was the atmosphere like? Did you cheer for your favourite team? Do you support any football/hockey etc. team?

4.Is sport popular in your town/city? Are there a lot of sport facilities in it? What are they? Are they free for everyone? Are children involved a lot into sport activities in your town/city? How?

II. Focus on Vocabulary

1. Arrange the words and word combinations according to the following headings and translate them into Russian:

Steeplechase, athlete, official (umpire, referee, judge), badminton, rings, best (record, fastest) time, uneven (parallel) bars, boxing gloves, crew (used for sportsmеn rowing or sailing a boat), to win the points, table-tennis, sports hall, archery, to end the match in a draw (the teams drew), to set up (break) a record, to follow a tournament, artistic gymnastics (callisthenics), play-ground, spectator, cycling, opponent (rival), diving, fencing, the score of the game was…

(6:4-six to four), to win with the score 4 to 0 in smb.’s favour, net, water polo, lose, sportsman (sportswoman), hang gliding, cricket, sports enthusiast, trampoline, defeat, runner-up, rowing and canoeing, record holder, draughts, racket, athletics (track-and-field), shout for, club, golf, discus (hammer, javelin) throwing, support, high (long, triple) jump, cup (final, semi-final) match, volley-ball, fan, hurdle races, beam, squash, to keep the score, to win by 2 (3) goals (points), cross-country skiing, football (soccer), down-hill skiing, contest, rugby (rugger), ski-jump, puck, slalom, (lawn) tennis, sky diving (parachuting), weight-lifting, chess, yachting, pole vault (vaulting), jumping (spring) board, basket-ball (netball), hockey, championship, international cup competition, national team, to score in the game, barbell, to score a goal.

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Work in pairs. Select any 5 words from the list above, read them to your partner, let him/her repeat them first, them translate them. To your selection of words add one more word from the list and one more proper name. Let your partner repeat and translate the words again. Then switch the roles.

2.Read the following word-combinations as quickly as possible. Translate them, switching from Russian into English and from English into Russian.

Archery – сыграть вничью – calisthenics – турнир – steeplechase – устано-

вить мировой рекорд – umpire – зритель – rival – игрок, занявший второе место – to defeat – шашки – javelin – легкая атлетика – beam – тяжелая атлетика – puck – яхтенный спорт – jumping (spring) board – чемпионат – barbell – спортсмен – boxing gloves – игровая площадка – fencing – велоспорт – shout for – проиграть – record holder – параллельные брусья – pole vault.

3.Read about the use of “to do, to go, to play” when speaking about sport.

Speaking about sport we use to play sport or to do sport. You can do a lot of/ a bit of sport.

To go is often used if the sport ends in -ing.

E.g. He went skiing when he lived in Norway. Does he go jogging? The word used with games is usually play.

E.g. He plays golf.

To do is used with other sport activities. E.g. He does athletics.

If you can take up a sport you begin to do it. The opposite is to give up. E.g. Why did you give up swimming? I’ve got no time for it.

Use the verbs do, play or go with the words below and make the sentences. Read your sentences to your group mates, let them translate them.

Baseball, aerobics, tennis, skating, handball, exercises, swimming, billiards, archery, rugby, gymnastics, squash, bandy, judo, surfboarding.

4. Translate the following sentences into English:

1.Я предпочитаю легкую атлетику боксу.

2.Я мечтаю поставить рекорд по плаванию.

3.Сегодня я не могу бежать, я не в форме.

4.Он уделяет много внимания физической подготовке.

5.Я болею за футбольную команду «Спартак».

6.Наша игра закончилась вничью.

7.Он охотно будет тренировать нас в фехтовании.

8.Вы занимаетесь легкой атлетикой?

9.Виндсерфинг и дельтапланеризм появились относительно недавно, и сейчас являются очень популярными видами спорта.

10.Мальчик мечтает стать хоккеистом и просит купить ему клюшку и шайбу.

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