Read the text and answer the following questions.
1) Which cities did London beat in the competition to host the Games?
2) Which city came second in the competition?
3) Which famous people helped in London’s bid for the Games?
4) How do you think London will change because of having the Olympic Games there in 2012?
5 Which event would you like to see included in the Olympic Games of the future? Skateboarding? Rollerblading? Computer games?
I think that _____________ should be included in the Olympic Games because ….
LONDON'S RUN TO VICTORY
London has beaten Paris and three other cities in the race to host
the Olympic Games in 2012.
Five rings, five cities
London will host the Olympic Games in 2012 following the International Olympic Committee’s announcement in Singapore on 6 July. London was one of five cities vying to host the Games. The others were Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow. London beat Paris 54-50 in the nail biting final vote. The news has been greeted with delight both in London and by the bidding team in Singapore, which included England football captain David Beckham and gold medal-winning athlete Denise Lewis.
Why did London win?
The city’s bid was fronted by former athlete Lord Sebastian Coe, who is well known and highly respected within world sport. The bid had strong support from the Mayor of London and the Government, and the Prime Minister’s personal lobbying may have proved decisive. They fought a high-profile publicity campaign.
But the mechanics of the bid itself and the plans to regenerate areas of derelict land in Stratford, East London also played a part. Wimbledon and Wembley are other famous venues likely to be used for some of the 26 sports. Public transport will be improved by 2012 and it is hoped that 80% of spectators will travel to the events by train.
What happens next?
Lord Coe said: ‘It is the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we've ever dreamed of in British sport.
We have a chance over seven years and way beyond that to change the face of British sport.’ He has agreed to chair the organising committee and Tessa Jowell MP has been appointed as Minister in charge of the London Olympics. The last word goes to London Mayor Ken Livingstone: ‘We'll give the world the best Games they've ever seen.’
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