London Olympics Legacy Difficult to Quantify
by Al Pessin
LONDON — London Olympics organizers say along with ashort-termeconomic boost and new sports facilities, the Games will leave a legacy in Britain of increased participation in sports and an improvement in public health.
It's hard to tell if sports centers will be more crowded after the Olympics, with Britons determined to be more fit. Opinions vary among Londoners near Olympic Park.
"People need to get that encouragement because it tends to begoing the other way at the moment, with people sitting in front of video games all day," said one bystander.
The recent finals of the annual British university games at the new Olympic Stadium attracted a record number of participants.
"I think the Olympics being here is truly inspiring people to actually do something that they haven't done for a long time," said University sports official Karen Rothery.
That is in keeping with the kind of post-Games benefits the London Organizing Committee wants. It formed a separate company to plan for the legacy, and company official Peter Tudor says one goal is to get as many people as possible to use the new sports facilities.
"'Inspire a Generation' is the new motto of the Games, and we're very excited about that," Tudor said. "We are committed with the venues to programming them absolutely to the brim with sporting activities that people want to do. But also to encouraging people who have never tried sport before."
But there is noscientific evidence that the Olympics will make any long-term difference in sports participation says Professor Adam Blake at Bournemouth University School of Tourism.
"In terms of academic research on sports participation, it's really not as cut and dried and black and white as we would hope it would be. In previous events, there really wasn't much evidence either way," noted Blake.Blake is planning more research after the Games.
In the meantime, people in Britain have been coming out in unexpectedly high numbers to catch a glimpse of the Olympic torch as it is carried around the country. Their enthusiasm indicates at least the potential to promote sports participation after the Games.
Vocabulary and Phrases
legacy (n.)
something that happens or exists as a result of things that happened at an earlier time.
bystander (n.)
someone who watches what is happening without taking part [= onlooker]
record (adj.)
at a higher level than ever achieved before.
official (n.)
someone who is in a position of authority in an organization.
motto (n.)
a short sentence or phrase that expresses a belief or purpose.
Program (v.); programme British English
to instruct a device or system to operate in a particular way or at a particular time:
to the brim (adj. phr)
to do something to the maximum degree.
cut and dried (adj. phr)
being or done according to a plan, set procedure, or formula; already decided and unlikely to be changed.
black and white (adj. phr)
describes a subject or situation in which it is clear and easy to understand what is right and wrong.
glimpse (n.)
a quick look at someone or something that does not allow you to see them clearly.
Exercise
I. Fill in the blanks with one of the words or phrases from the list above.
1. I caught a quick ____________ of the driver of the getaway car, but I doubt I would recognize him if I saw him again.
2. My ___________ is “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. ”
3. I've _____________med the air conditioner to turn off at 10 o'clock.
4. He is one of the government ____________s who supports the bill.
5. Several innocent ____________s were injured in the explosion.
6. The war left a _____________ of hatred and bitterness for the people in this country.
7. The football match attracted a ____________ crowd of 80,000 spectators.
II. Reading Comprehension
Judge whether each statement is true or false according to the article.
8. ____ Olympic organizers believe that Olympics will have positive influence on British people’s exercise habit.
9. ____ Encouraged by the Olympics, Londoners already do sports frequently now.
10. ____ People can do sports in the Olympic venues after the Game is over.
11. ____ Adam Blake thinks it is too early to say that, in the long run, whether people will participate in sports more after the Game.
12. ____ British people show no interest in watching the Olympic torch relay.
Answer key:
1. glimpse 2. motto 3. program 4. official 5. bystander 6. legacy 7. record
8. T 9. F 10. T 11. T 12. T
Source: http://www.voanews.com/content/london-olympics-legacy-difficlut-to-calculate/1360801.html
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