Unit 12
The Asian games
Tell names of each sports you know
football
Swimming
Karatedo
Badminton
The Asian games, which take place every four years, are held for the purpose of developing intercultural knowledge and friendship within Asian. In this multi-sport event, young people from all over Asian gather together to compete. It is an occasion when strength and sports skills are tested; friendship and solidarity are built and promoted.
During their five-decade history, the Asian Games have been advancing in all aspects. The number of participants has been increasing. The quality of athletes, officials and sports facilities has also been developing through time. New sports and traditional sports have been introduced and added to the Game. The 1st Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India in 1951. Only 489 athletes from 11 nations took part in the Games. The six sports events at the first Games were basketball, cycling, football, aquatic sports, athletics and weightlifting. Boxing, shooting and wrestling were added at the 2nd Asian Games in Manila, the Philippines in 1954; and tennis, volleyball, table tennis and hockey were added at the 3rd Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan in 1958. Squash, rugby, fencing and mountain biking were introduced for the first time at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998.
The 14thAsian Games, which were held in Busan, Korea in 2002, attracted 9919 participants from 44 countries. The athletes competed in 38 different sports and won 427 gold metals. The Vietnamese participants tool part in this event with great enthusiasm. Their efforts were much appreciated when they won 2 gold metals in bodybuilding and billiards, and 2 others in women`s karatedo. It is hopes that in the near future, Vietnam will become a host country and receive more metals in a variety of sports even.
Task 1. The words in the box all appear in the passage. Fill each blank with a suitable word.

Effort
appreciated
advancing
Aquatic
enthusiasm
Facilities

the hotel has special ___________for disabled athletes.
swimming and water skiing are both ___________sports.
he never lost his___-___________for training athletes.
I will make every___________to arrive on time.
our sports performances have been ___________considerably over recent years.
your help was greatly__________.
Task 2. Scan the passage and complete the following table.
1951
The 2nd in Manila, the Philippines
1958
Squash, rugby, fencing and moutain biking
2002
Task 3. Answer the question.
1. What is the purpose of the Asian Games?
The Asian games, which take place every four years, are held for the purpose of developing intercultural knowledge and friendship within Asian
2. How many participants took part in the 14th Asian Games?
Only 489 athletes from 11 nations took part in the Games.
3. In which sports events did the Vietnamese athletes win gold medals at the Busan Games?
they won 2 gold metals in bodybuilding and billiards, and 2 others in women`s karatedo