BBC Learning English
Words in the News
World Athletics Championships
19 August 2013
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The World Athletics Championships have ended in Moscow with a third gold medal for
Usain Bolt. The first of three big international sporting events hosted by Russia over the
coming years was described by the head of world athletics as a "wonderful celebration".
From Moscow here's our sports news reporter Alex Capstick.
Usain Bolt's brief address appreciated by his audience inside the Luzhniki stadium,
where the atmosphere significantly improved after a flat opening few days. People came
in relatively large numbers.
There was vociferous support for Russian competitors. With more gold medals than any
other nation there was plenty for the home fans to shout about. This is a country where
athletics has not been a popular spectator sport. Maybe this event has helped change
that.
This has also been a championship without a major drugs scandal. Doping controversies
had marred the build-up.
There was one issue which stubbornly refused to go away. Some foreign athletes openly
protested against Russia's law banning the promotion of gay and lesbian relations.
The country's sports minister said the whole topic had been blown out of proportion
by the Western media. But with the Sochi Winter Olympics just six months away this
contentious subject is set to linger.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Vocabulary and definitions
address announcement to an audience
flat not exciting, not interesting
vociferous spoken with great energy and determination,
expressing views loudly and many times
shout about become excited or pleased about
spectator sport a sport that people find interesting to watch
major serious, significant
marred spoilt, made something less good
stubbornly in a way that is difficult to deal with or change
blown out of proportion exaggerated, made worse than it actually is
contentious causing disagreements or arguments
linger continue without being solved
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/08/130819_witn_world_athletics.shtml
Related story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/23738147
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com