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Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to another edition of Russian
Monthly, the Internet newsletter from
Transparent Language. In this issue, we look
at the exciting world of sports. In
particular, we will focus on the Goodwill
Games, a major international sports event
that was born in 1986 as a response to the
Olympic boycotts of the Cold War era. Even
if you are not a sports fanatic, I’m sure
you’ll find this month’s article both
intriguing and helpful in building your
language skills.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
International sports competition is not only
a venue for showcasing the best of the best,
but a way for countries around the world to
interact with one another. It provides us
with a common passion, a means for open
communication. The Goodwill Games are no
different.
Founded in 1986 by Ted Turner, Vice Chairman
of Time Warner, the Goodwill Games sought to
enrich humanity by promoting goodwill
through sport. This was in direct response
to the Cold War boycotts that took place
during the 1980 and 1984 summer Olympics.
Over the years, the objective of the Games
has been somewhat redefined, focusing mainly
on benefiting children. The official
charities of the Goodwill Games are the Boys
& Girls Clubs of America and UNICEF
International. This commitment is further
supported through children's sports programs
like the Winter Achievers and the Junior
Goodwill Games.
The first Goodwill Games, held in Moscow in
1986, featured more than 3,000 of the
world's best athletes from nearly 80
countries. These top-notch athletes competed
in over 180 gold-medal events in 18
different sports. By the end of the
competition, six world records, as well as
several continental and national records,
were shattered. New world records were set
that year in pole vault (Sergei Bubka),
heptathalon (Jackie Joyner-Kersee), men's
cycling (Michael Hubner), and women's
cycling (Erika Salumae), just to name a few.
Exceptional athletic performances, together
with business and cultural programs, helped
the Goodwill Games to emerge as a premier
sporting event. The second Goodwill Games
experience was no different. Held in
Washington state, the 1990 Goodwill Games
once again brought the world's best athletes
together to compete in 21 sports. The Games
also attracted more than 1,400 Soviet
citizens to Seattle, and art festivals,
conferences, exhibits, and peace initiatives
gave thousands of people an opportunity to
share their thoughts, perspectives, ideas,
and expectations. Among many other
highlights, the 1990 Games saw three men
break the world record in the same 200m
breaststroke. The gold went to Mike
Barrowman (USA), while Kirk Stackle (USA)
and Sergio Lopes (Spain) tied for second
place. All three came in under the previous
world mark. The 1990 Goodwill Games also
witnessed the Soviet Union's international
debut in the sport of baseball.
In 1994, Russia was once more the host
country for the games, this time in the city
of St. Petersburg. By the time the Games
officially opened in July of that year, the
city had undergone major improvements,
including the renovation of the sports
arenas, the installation of advanced
telecommunication and transportation
systems, and the restoration of many
historic landmarks around the city. All
told, crowds of more than 70,000 witnessed
the opening and closing ceremonies at Kirov
Stadium. The 1994 Goodwill Games also
attracted a record number of sponsors from
around the world, all eager to tap into the
marketing opportunities in the "new" Russia.
That year, as in previous years, the
athletic competition was riveting. Jackie
Joyner-Kersee won her third consecutive
Goodwill Games gold; five world records were
set by Russian athletes in the sport of
weightlifting; and beach volleyball debuted
for the first time in a major international
contest. Throngs of people crammed the
beaches at Peter and Paul Fortress,
affirming that the inclusion of beach
volleyball in the 1994 Games was a huge
success.
The Goodwill Games returned to the United
States in 1998, descending upon New York
City and offering competition in 15 sports.
Five million dollars in prize money and
performance incentives was offered, marking
it the largest purse ever presented in the
history of multi-sport events. New York
state and Nassau county covered the cost for
a new multi-million dollar aquatic facility,
as well as the $22 million refurbishment of
the athletic complex in Nassau county.
This year, in February of 2000, the
Goodwill Games held its first winter sports
program. Lake Placid was the setting for the
Games, showcasing seven winter sports. The
decision to institute the winter Goodwill
Games was an effort to allow winter athletes
to compete in a world class competition and
promote their respective sports. In turn,
plans for the summer Goodwill Games are
currently under way. Beginning in late
August 2001, the Games will be held in
Brisbane, Australia, marking the first time
in Games history that the competition has
been held somewhere other than the United
States or Russia. Fourteen sporting events
are planned for the summer Games, including
beach volleyball, surf lifesaving, and
trampoline. It is expected that, in
addition to stellar athletic performances,
the 2001 Goodwill Games will generate more
than 2,000 jobs and more than $167 million
for the local economy.
In its short history, the Goodwill Games has
allowed thousands of athletes to compete
and millions of fans to observe. What began
in 1986 as a response to Cold War boycotting
has grown into a major world-class
competition, uniting athletes and sports
fans around the world, and benefiting
children everywhere.
Sources:
www.goodwillgames.com
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