BBC Learning English
Words in the News

Sochi Olympic flame
30 September 2013

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Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

The longest ever Olympic torch relay for the Winter games in Sochi has begun. The flame

was lit in Greece using the sun's rays. It will travel 65,000 kilometres, including a visit to

the International Space Station in November. The BBC's Jonathan Josephs reports:

Dressed in cream-coloured, shoulderless, pleated dresses, 21 high priestesses

perform an elaborate dance routine. The actresses were surrounded by the ruins of

the Temple of Hera in Olympia - the site of the ancient Olympics.

As they moved in carefully choreographed routines the torch for the 2014 Winter
Olympics in Sochi was lit.

Tall construction cranes still hang over Sochi's Olympic stadium. There are concerns

over whether the venues will be ready for February. Despite recent backing from a

leading IOC official, locals are split.

By the time the Olympic flame arrives at Sochi's opening ceremony it will have taken its

first ever trip to space and visited nearly 3,000 different places in Russia. But questions

remain as to whether it can truly inspire equality for all.

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

cream-coloured

a white/ yellow colour

shoulderless

without shoulders

pleated

piece of cloth folded and sewed together

high priestesses (plural)

senior female priests

elaborate

very complex

routine

a series of movements that form part of a
performance

Temple of Hera

an ancient Greek temple at Olympia, Greece

choreographed

designed dance movements

cranes (plural)

tall machines with a long arm to lift and move heavy
things

venues (plural)

places where events take place

backing

support which someone gives to a plan

locals (plural)

people that live in the area you are talking about

split

divided by different opinions

equality

the right of all people to have a similar social position
and receive same treatment

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130930_witn_olympic_torch.shtml

Related story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24322436