Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. permit (v.) [per-mit] – to allow someone to do something
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. permit (v.) [per-mit] – to allow someone to do something
Example: The officials will
permit the fans to get autographs from the athlete.
2. chaotic (adj.) [key-ot-ik] – having much confusion and disorder
Example: The chaotic fighting within the nation
decreased tourism significantly.
3. disqualified (adj.) [dis-kwol-uh-fahy] – prohibited to join something because of failure to meet certain standards
Example: Athletes who have not
won in any competition are disqualified
from the Olympics.
4. regime (n.) [ruh-zheem, rey-, or, sometimes, -jeem] – a system of government or administration
Example: Many Syrians are not
happy with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
5. atrocity (n.) [uh-tros-i-tee] – a very bad crime or action
Example: Syrians have witnessed
a lot of atrocities, as civil war
continues in their country.
Article
Read the text below.
At a press
conference in London, UK’s prime minister David Cameron announced that Syrian
athletes are permitted to compete
in the London Olympics. However, Syrian government officials will not be
allowed to attend the event.
Cameron said it is
only right to permit Syrian athletes to take part because they should not be punished for what is
happening in their chaotic country.
In an earlier
interview, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) revealed that six to eight athletes from Syria met the standards to
participate in the Olympics, although Syrian athletes who are connected in
any way to war crimes will be disqualified.
In addition, Rogge
said the IOC is cooperating with
the UN to confirm who are involved in the Syrian atrocities.
Syria has been
experiencing a series of bloody conflicts between President Bashar
al-Assad’s regime and rebels since
March 2011. An estimated 9,000 people have been killed since then, according
to a report by the United Nations (UN).
The Syrian
government also did not keep its promise to follow a peace plan, causing much
disapproval from the international community.
The UK prime minister
added that Britain has been leading the European Union in setting up penalties
against members of the Syrian government. One such penalty is that people connected
to the Syrian government cannot travel to the UK and other countries.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you agree with the IOC decision to allow
Syrian athletes to compete? Why or why not?
·
Should athletes be involved in government politics?
Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
·
Why do you think people enjoy international
sports competitions?
·
How do you think being part of international
sports events can help a troubled country?