БГУФКGYMNASTICSГИМНАСТИКА
Учебное пособие по английскомуязыку
для студентов IIкурса БГУФК
Минск
/>ВВЕДЕНИЕ
Настоящее учебное пособие являетсяуроком-темой курса “Английский язык” для студентов учебных заведенийфизкультурного профиля. Его цель – содействовать профессиональноориентированному обучению студентов иностранному языку (английскому):приобретению знаний терминологической лексики по теме “Гимнастика”, навыковобщения в профессиональной деятельности и чтении литературы по специальности.
Учебное пособие составлено в соответствиис требованиями программы по английскому языку для неязыковых вузов.
В самой сжатой форме оно охватывает всюосновную терминологию по гимнастике.
При отборе лексики автор руководствовалсяпринципом тематичности, сочетаемости, частотности употребления ее в современноманглийском языке. Текстовой материал знакомит студентов с основными типамисоревнований по гимнастике, их программой и упражнениями; правилами судейства;историей развития гимнастики; белорусскими чемпионами Олимпийских игр поспортивной и художественной гимнастике и их достижениями.
При отборе текстового материала в качествеосновного критерия служила информативная ценность текстов и их соответствиеинтересам студентов. Тексты взяты из оригинальных спортивных материалов.
Учебное пособие не претендует на полнотуохвата всех реалий в области гимнастики, однако оно должно расширить словарныйзапас учащихся; активизировать знания, умения и навыки, полученные на раннихэтапах изучения английского языка, за счет их тренировки в различных видахречевой деятельности.
Материал рекомендуется проходить впорядке, изложенном в пособии.
GYMNASTICS
I. Discuss with your group-mates before you read the text:
What sport is the most gracefuland artistic?
II. Say in Russian:
• what you know aboutgymnastics competition
• how many events a men’sgymnastics competition has
• how many events a women’sgymnastics competition has
• what gymnastic equipment mustbe in the gymnasium
• what gymnastics equipment isused for men’s training (for women’s training).
Task I.Study the vocabulary to the text“Gymnastics” and translate the word combinations and sentences:
1. be regarded as ... считаться
e.g.Gymnastics is regarded as one of the bestmeans of physical education.
2. compulsory a обязательный
w.comb compulsory element exercise programme education
3. handicapped n инвалид
4. artistic gymnastics спортивная гимнастика
syn. competitive gymnastics
5. rhythmic gymnastics художественная гимнастика
6. perform v выполнять, исполнять
e.g.Each contestant performs compulsoryelements.
7. performance n исполнение, результат
8. nakeda обнаженный, голый
e.g.The word gymnasium comes from a Greek wordmeaning to exercise naked.
9. judge n судья
e.g.Judges watch each performance.
10. equipment n 1.cнаряд2. предмет 3. оборудование
syn. apparatus
11. gymnastic equipment гимнастический снаряд
syn. apparatus
12. routine n программа (спортивная)
e.g.Gymnast’s performance is called a routine.
w.comb.compulsory routine /> /> optional /> />
13. earn v заработать,получить
w.comb.earn money score
14. balance n равновесие
15. endurance n выносливость, стойкость
16. flexibility n гибкость
e.g.Gymnastics helps develop balance,endurance, flexibility, and strength.
17. television coverage n трансляция потелевидению
18. remarkably adv значительно
Task II.Read the text and find the answers to thequestions:
1. What is gymnastics?
2. Where does gymnastic competition takeplace?
3. Is gymnastics included in the programme ofthe Olympic Games?Text 1. Gymnastics
Gymnastics is regarded as oneof the best means of physical training. Its exercises develop human bodyharmoniously and all sided and are
a compulsory element of the training in many sports.
It is one of the most gracefuland artistic sports and popular all over the world. It is also used as a meansof rehabilitation for handicapped.
Gymnastics is a sport in whicheach contestant performs acrobatic exercises on various types of gymnasticequipment. It can be divided into artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics andacrobatics. Artistic gymnastics has special programmes for men and women.
Two ormore teams compete in a competition, which takes place in
a gymnasium. Gymnasium is a special room or building for instruction andpractice in physical training. The word gymnasium comes from a Greek word meaning toexercise naked in ancient Greece, the word was used to mean public places setaside for athletic sports. Greek boys and young men wore no clothes when takingpart in games, in order to have freedom of bodily movement.
Men’s and women’s team haveseparate competitions. Judges watch each gymnast’s performance called a routineand decide what score he or she has earned. Gymnastics helps develop balance,endurance, flexibility, and strength.
Gymnastics has been a part ofthe Olympic Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896. During the 1970’s,world wide television coverage of the Olympics helped gymnastics growremarkably as a spectator sport. The International Gymnastics Federation is thegoverning body of gymnastics.
Vocabulary, Grammar and Speech Exercises
Ex. 1. Give the nouns corresponding to theseverbs:
to develop, to perform, tocompete, to instruct, to practice, to decide, to help, to begin, to grow.
Ex. 2. Form adverbs from these adjectives:
harmonious, graceful, artistic,separate, remarkable.
Ex. 3. Find Russian equivalents for the following Englishwords and word- combinations:
artistic gymnastics
rhythmic gymnastics
performance
judge
gymnastics equipment
routine
television coverage
flexibility
earn score
compulsory
обязательный
гибкость
спортивный снаряд
трансляция по телевидению
исполнение
зарабатывать очки
художественная гимнастика
спортивная программа
судья
спортивная гимнастика
Ex. 4. Replace the following Russian words andword-combinations by their English equivalents from the text:
1.Одно из самых лучших средств тренировки. 2. Всесторонне и гармонично. 3.Обязательный элемент. 4. Выполнять акробатические упражнения. 5. В гимнастическомзале. 6. Программа гимнаста.
7. Зарабатывать очки. 8. Равновесие, гибкость, выносливость. 9. Зрелищный спорт. 10. Обнаженный.
Ex. 5. Give extensive answers to the followingquestions:
1. Why is gymnastics regarded as one of thebest means of physical training?
2. What is gymnastics?
3. What forms is gymnastics divided into?
4. Where do gymnasts compete?
5. What word does the word gymnasium comefrom?
6. How is each gymnast’s performance called?
7. What qualities does gymnastics help to develop?
8. Since when has gymnastics been a part ofthe Olympic Games?
9. What is the governing body of gymnastics?
Ex. 6. Some statements are not true to the fact. Correctthem:
1. Gymnasticexercises develop human body harmoniously and all-sided, but they are notcompulsory elements of the training in many sports.
2. It is one of themost graceful and artistic sports, but it is not popular all over the world.
3. Coaches watcheach gymnast’s performance and decide what score he or she has earned.
4. Gymnastics helpsto develop balance, speed, flexibility, and strength.
Ex. 7. Make up ten questions to the text usingthe vocabulary of the text.
Ex. 8. Describe gymnastics as a sport. Say what you knowabout:
· • forms of gymnastics;
· • how gymnasticsdevelop human body;
· • the place forpractising gymnastics;
· • the InternationalGymnastic Federation.
Task III.Study the vocabulary to text 2 “Men’s events”:
1. consist v состоять
e.g.A men’s gymnastics competition consists ofsix events
2. set n серия, цикл, система
a последовательный, определенный
e.g.In a set order
3. floor exercises n вольные упражнения
e.g.The floor exercises give competitors achance to warm up.
4. pommel horse n 1.конь-махи (упражнение)
2. конь с ручками (снаряд)
e.g.The pommel horse is the equipment that isused for men’s training.
5. rings n кольца
e.g.The gymnast must be very strong to performon the rings.
6. horsevault n опорный прыжок для мужчин
7. parallel bars n параллельные брусья
e.g.The parallel bars are used only by men.
8. horizontal bar n перекладина
syn. high bar
e.g.The horizontal or high bar produces themost exciting moments in gymnastics.
9. specialist n спортсмен, выступающий водном или двух видах программы
10. measure v иметь размеры
e.g. The mat measures 12 metres square.
11. require v требовать
e.g.The gymnast performs a continuous seriesof movements that require balance, flexibility, and strength performing thefloor exercises.
12. handspring n переворот прогнувшись черезпрямые руки (назад, вперед, боком)
e.g.Each gymnast must perform handsprings.
13. leap n прыжок
e.g.Gymnasts movements include leaps in floorexercises.
14. somersault n сальто
e.g.Somersault in the air
15. tumbling n акробатика
syn. acrobatics
e.g.Series of movements include tumbling infloor exercises.
16. pad v набиватьватой или волосом
e.g.The padded piece of equipment
17. support n поддержка, опора, упор
v поддерживать
e.g. The gymnast uses the pommels to support theweight.
18. swing n взмах, мах, раскачивание
v махать, перемахивать, делать оборот
e.g.He swings his legs
19. the scissors n ножницы (скрестный мах ногами
(на коне))
e.g. The gymnast performs a movement called the scissors.
20. switch v переключать, менять
e.g.The gymnast switches the position of thelegs, as he swings them from side to side.
21. frequently adv часто
e.g.The gymnast must frequently supporthimself with only one hand.
22. suspend v висеть, подвешивать
23. cablen канат, трос
e.g.The event is performed on two wooden ringssuspended from cables.
24. grasp n хват, сжатие
v хватать, сжимать, выполнять хват
e.g.The gymnast leaps up and grasps the rings.
25. cross n крест
e.g.Azaryan’s cross.
26. extend v вытягивать, протягивать
e.g.The sportsmen extended his arms sideways.
27. upright a вертикальный, прямой
e.g.He supports himself in an upright positionwith his arms extended sideways.
28. remain v оставаться
e.g.The sportsman remained in the uprightposition.
29. motionless a неподвижный
e.g.The gymnast remained motionless.
30. resemble v быть похожим
e.g.The stand resembles the one onthe pommel horse.
31. vault n опорный прыжок
v выполнять опорный прыжок
e.g.Men vault across the length of the horse.
32. approach v подходить, приближаться
e.g.He approached the parallel bars.
33. springboard n гимнастический мостик
e.g.After a running start, the gymnast jumpsfrom a springboard.
34. twist n поворот на 360 градусов, вращение,винт
v поворачиваться, вращаться
e.g.The competitor may twist or turn beforelanding.
35. average n среднее число (величина)
e.g.The gymnast’s final score comes from anaverage of his two vaults.
36. apartadv врозь, широко, вотдельности
e.g.The parallel bars are two long wooden barsabout 16.5 centimetres high and slightly more than shoulder width apart.
37. handstand n стойка на руках
e.g.The gymnast supports himself on the barswith his hands while performing handstands.
38. support swing размахивание в упоре
swing to handstand стойкана руках из упора махом назад
39. hold n хват, захват, выдержка(статический элемент)
v хватать, держать, выдерживать, фиксировать
e.g.The gymnast may perform several holdingpositions on the parallel bars.
40. reverse a обратный (хват, мах)
v выполнять в другую сторону, плечом назад
e.g.The competitor must reverse his positionon the bar.
41. stagger v шататься
42. grip n хват(на параллельных брусьях)
43. regain v возвратить, получать обратно
e.g.On the barthe competitorreleases his grip and regains while in the air.
44. dismount n соскок
v выполнять соскок
e.g.Many gymnasts finish their performancewith a spectacular dismount from the bar.
45.all-around competition n соревнование по многоборью
e.g.All-around competition for men consists ofsix events.
46. all-around gymnastics champion n
чемпион в гимнастическоммногоборье, абсолютный чемпион по гимнастике
Task IV. The men’s gymnastics competition consists of sixevents. Read the text and draw up the programme of a men’s gymnasticscompetition.Text 2. Men’s events
There are three types of gymnastics competitions: 1) artistic gymnastics;2) rhythmic gymnastics and 3) acrobatics. Artistic gymnastics is gymnasticswithout apparatus and gymnastics on apparatus.
A men’s gymnastics competition consists of six events that are held in aset order. These events, in order of performance, are the (1) floor exercise,(2) pommel horse, (3) rings, (4) horse vault, (5) parallel bars, and
(6) horizontal bar. Men who compete in all six events are called all-roundgymnasts. Those who enter only one or two events are called specialists.Thefloor exercise
The floor exercise is performed on a mat that measures 12 metres square.The gymnast performs a continuous series of movements that require balance,flexibility, and strength. These movements include handsprings, leaps,somersaults in the air, and tumbling. The floor exercise must be completed innot less than 50 seconds and not more than 70 seconds. In competition allparts of the floor area and all directions should be used. Strength movementsshould be performed slowly and static positions must be held for at least twoseconds. Somersaults should be done at shoulder height.Thepommel horse
The pommel horse, or side horse, is named after the padded piece ofequipment on which this event is held. The horse measures about 165 centimetreslong and about 35 centimetres wide. It has two wooden handles on top calledpommels which are about 125 centimetres from the floor. The gymnast uses thepommels to support his weight entirely with his hands. He swings his legs incircles around the sides and top of the horse without stopping. He alsoperforms a movement called the scissors, beginning with one leg on each side ofthe horse. He switches the positions of his legs as he swings them from side toside. He must frequently support himself with only one hand while raising theother hand to swing his legs past.Therings
This event is performed on two wooden rings suspended from cables about250 centimetres above the floor. The gymnast leaps up and grasps the rings andthen tries to keep them motionless while performing various movements. Theseinclude handstands and complete circular swings. The athlete supports his bodyin various strength positions, which require exceptional power. In a movementcalled the cross, for example, he supports himself in an upright position withhis arms extended sideways. The event also includes holding positions, whichrequire him to remain motionsless for two seconds. The gymnast performs hisroutine, concluding by landing on the floor with both legs together.Thehorse vault
The horse vault is performed on a stand that resembles the pommel horsebut has no pommels. In this event, the gymnast vaults across the length of thehorse. He approaches the horse at a run and jumps up and forward from a lowspringboard. He places one or both hands on the horse for support as he goesover. He may twist around in the air, do a somersault, or perform any one of severalmovements. Competitors must not stagger on landing. In some competitions, thegymnast vaults twice and his final score comes from an average of his twovaults. In international competition, the gymnast vaults once.Theparallel bars
In this event, the gymnast performs on two long wooden bars about 165centimetres high and slightly more than shoulder width apart. He supportshimself on the bars with his hands while performing handstands, swings, twists,and other acrobatic movements. The gymnast may perform several holdingpositions on the parallel bars. In each one, he must remain motionless for oneor two seconds. In addition, he performs various strength movements thatrequire great arm power and must be done slowly.Thehorizontal bar
The horizontal bar event takes place on a somewhatflexible steel bar fastened about 250 centimetres above the floor between twosupports. The gymnast holds the bar with one or both hands and swings around itrepeatedly. He performs several acrobatic movements without coming to a fullstop. During this routine, he must reverse his position, which involves achange of grip on the bar. He also must perform manoeuvres that require him torelease his grip and regain it again while in the air. Many gymnasts finishthis event with a spectacular dismount from the bar. They swing rapidly aroundthe bar, let go, and twist or somersault in the air before landing on theirfeet.All-aroundcompetition
All-round competition for men consists of all six events. In national andinternational competitions, an all-around competitor must perform a compulsoryroutine in each event. This routine involves a set sequence of movements. Thegymnast then performs an optional routine in each of the six events, doingwhatever movements he chooses. Only all-around gymnasts compete ininternational competition.
Vocabulary and Speech Exercises
Ex. 1. Look at the pictures and name the events a men’sgymnastic competition consists of. Put the pictures in the events performingorder.
/>
/>
a
b
/>
/>
c
d
/>
/>
e
f
Ex. 2. Say which Englishsentence contains Russian equivalent term:кольца
1. The parallel bars is the apparatus that is used for men’s training.
2. He is a champion in the floor exercises.
3. A gymnast must be very strong to perform on the rings. конь-махи
1. The vaulting horse is shared by both men and women.
2. The horse vault is performed on a stand that resembles the pommel horse but has no pommels.
3. The rings is an event held on two wooden rings suspended from cables. перекладина
1. The parallel bars are used only by men.
2. The horizontal or high bar produces probably the most exciting moments in gymnastics.
3. The pommel horse event is performed on a piece of equipment called a horse.
Ex. 3. Complete the sentences, using the pictures asprompts:1. The most difficult apparatus for me is the ...
/> 2. Our national team was the best team in the ...
/> 3. He was the best on the ...
/> 4. His favourite apparatus was the ...
/>
Ex. 4. Read the text. Insert the missing termsfrom the list:
floor exercises, rings,vaulting horse, pommel horse, horizontal bar, parallel bars
Many young men and women go infor gymnastics in our republic. They have necessary facilities, equipment andcoaching in gymnastics. The gymnasts take part in competitions. Each gymnastmay perform exercise on apparatus and the…. There are some kinds ofapparatus for men and women and the… and the… for both of them.
It is necessary to distinguishthe pieces of apparatus for supporting position and hanging position.
Among pieces of apparatus forsupporting position the following are considered: the… and ..., and amongapparatus for handing position: the… and… .
Ex. 5. Explain the terms used in gymnastics:
• all-around gymnast
• specialist
• apparatus
• compulsory routine
• optional routine
• all-around competition
• all-around champion
• motionless
• springboard
• grasp
Ex. 6. Name:
• the types of gymnasticscompetitions;
• the events of which a men’sgymnastics competition consist;
• the floor exercises;
• the exercises on the pommelhorse;
• the exercises on the rings;
• the exercises on the parallelbars;
• the exercises on thehorizontal bars.
Ex. 7. Say what you know about:
• theorder of performing the events in a men’s gymnastics competition;
• the floor exercises;
• the pommel horse;
• the rings;
• the horse vault;
• the parallel bars;
• the horizontal bar;
• all-around competition formen.
Ex. 8. Speak on the topic:
• the apparatus for men’sgymnastic competitions;
• the programme of men’sgymnastic competitions;
• gymnast performance on thehorizontal bar (rings, pommel horse, horse vault, parallel bars).
Task V.Study the vocabulary to the text “Women’s events” andtranslate the sentences:
1. side horse vault опорный прыжок (для женщин)
e.g.The side horse vault is performed on the sameequipment used in men’s horse vaulting.
2. uneven parallelbars разновысокие брусья
syn. asymmetrical bars
e.g.In the uneven parallel bars the athlete switchesrapidly back and forth
from one bar to the other.
3. balance beam бревно(гимнастическое)
e.g.The balance beam is used only by women incompetitions.
4. count v засчитывать
e.g.Only the higher of the two scores counts.
5. agility n ловкость, быстрота
e.g.The athlete swings require great agility.
6. cartwheel n “колесо”
7. back handspring переворот назад,фляк
8. accompaniment n сопровождение, аккомпанемент
TaskVI.Read the textand draw up the programme of the women’s gymnastics competition.
Text3. Women’s events
A women’s gymnastics competition has four events. In order ofperformance, they are (1) side horse vault, (2) uneven parallel bars, (3)balance beam, and (4) floor exercise. Most women gymnasts enter all theseevents.The side horse vault
The side horse vault is performed on the same equipment used in men’shorse vaulting. But women gymnasts vault across the horse’s width rather thanits length. In most competitions, the gymnast vaults twice, but only the higherof the two scores counts.The uneven parallel bars
In the uneven parallel gymnasts compete on two parallel wooden bars, oneabout 230 centimetres above the floor and the other about 150 centimetres high.The athlete swings around one bar at a time, performing manoeuvres that requiregreat flexibility and agility. She switches rapidly back and forth from one barto the other, trying to keep in constant motion.The balance beam
The balance beam involves a long wooden beam about 10 centimetres wide.Competitors perform jumps, leaps, running steps, and turns on it and try to usethe beam’s full length. The best performers also do cartwheels, backhandsprings, and somersaults. The routine must last at least 1 minute 10seconds but not more than 1 minute 30 seconds.The floor exercise
The floor exercise is performed on a mat that resembles the one used inthe men’s floor exercise. Women gymnasts perform this event with a musicalaccompaniment. Each contestant designs her routine to match the tempo and moodof the music she has selected. She must take at least 1 minute 10 seconds andnot more than 1 minute 30 seconds to demonstrate her skill in acrobatics,dancing, and tumbling.All-around competition
All-around competition for women includes all four events. In nationaland international competitions, every competitor performs a compulsory routinein each event and then an optional routine in each. International competitionis open only to all-around gymnasts.
Vocabulary and Speech Exercises
Ex. 1. Look at the pictures and name the events a women’sgymnastic ccompetition consists of. Put the picturesin the events performing order.
/>
/>
a
b
/>
/>
c
d
Ex. 2. Complete the sentencesusing the pictures as prompts:1. For the majority of gymnasts and spectators, the most exciting event in women’s competition is the …
/> 2. The only apparatus which is essentially feminine and has no counterpart in the men’s competition is the …
/> 3. The exercise performed on the same equipment used in men’s horse vaulting is the …
/> 4. The exercise performed with a musical accompaniment …
/>
Ex. 3. Find out which English sentence contains Russianequivalent term:бревно
1. Uneven bars is the only event for women – the only event in which the hands are almost constantly in use, gripping the rails.
2. Vaulting uniquely involves the element of flight of the four events in women’s gymnastics.
3. A beginner must spend many hours learning to move around on the beam in comfort – walking, running, skipping, leaping. разновысокие брусья
1. The vaulting runway is sixty to eighty feet long.
2. The intricate movements prescribed for uneven bars comprise a number of fear – producing elements, as do routines in all the events.
3. The balance beam adventure begins with the working surface of the beam itself. конь
1. In gymnastic vaulting there are two pieces of equipment: the horse and takeoff board.
2. Floor exercises is commonly regarded as the most beautiful event in gymnastics.
3. Uneven bars is a relatively new event in women’s gymnastics having been performed for the first time at the 1952 Olympics. “колесо”
1. Somersault is a leap or fall in which one turns heels over head before landing on one’s feet.
2. To skip is to jump lightly and quickly.
3. The best gymnasts perform cartwheels, back handsprings, and somersaults on the beam.
Ex. 4. Read thetext. Insert the missing terms from the list beam, six, four, leaps,somersault, floor exercises, balance, spins, vaulting horse, balances, unevenbars, gymnastics
Success in the ...exercises for men and… for women at the OlympicGames requires that the gymnast develops a strong physique and all-roundability.
The…… are usually the first of the events since they givecompetitors a chance to warm up with movements not requiring tremendousstrength. The sportswoman aims to impress the judges with a sequence of...,..., and together with the elements of acrobatics. Strength movements should beperformed slowly and static position must be held for at least two seconds –… should be done at shoulder height.
The…… is the simplest of all the events. Men vault over the horselengthways, passing first over the “croup” and then the “neck”. Women vaultsideways, putting their hands on the middle of the horse which is not as highas for men.
Women use the……. Emphasis is on the suspension and momentarybracing positions and the female gymnast must change bars by turning orexecuting elegant movements.
The… is used only by women in competitions. It was originallyenvisaged as a method for women to demonstrate… but in recent years many ofthe skills of the floor exercises have been introduced. Many female competitorsuse ballet, which is very close to many of the… movements.
Ex. 5. Explain the terms used in gymnastics:
• the side horsevault
• the unevenparallel bars
• the balance beam
• cartwheel
• back handspring
• somersault
• running steps
• skips
Ex. 6. Name the
• women’s gymnasticscompetition events
• exercises on theuneven parallel bars
• exercises on thebeam
• floor exercisesfor women.
Ex. 7. Say what you know about:
• the order ofperforming the events in a women’s gymnastics competition
• the exercises onapparatus for women
• all-aroundcompetition for women
Ex. 8. Speak on the topic:
• the apparatus forwomen’s gymnastics competitions
• the programme forthe women’s gymnastic competitions
• gymnast performance on the balance beam (uneven bars, side horse).
Task VII.Read the text about the gymnastics competitions. Findout how the winner is determined
Gymnasticscompetition
Judging
Judging involves the assessment of a gymnastic performance by someonesupposedly well-versed in the detailed and rather complex methods ofevaluation.
Gymnastics has matured into a highly technical sport, and the evaluationof routines has become a complicated process.
Judges of gymnastics competitions carefully watch each compulsory routinefor such flaws as falls, improper body position, omissions, slowness, andstops. In the optional routines, the judges base their scores on difficulty,form, and the combination of movements.
A perfect score for any event is 10.00. The judges subtract points ortenths of a point for each flaw. In optional routines, the judges may awardbonus points for especially difficult or original movement.
In men’s competition, five judges, including one called a head orsuperior judge, score the performance of each gymnast. In most cases, the scoreof the head judge is not used. Instead, the head judge takes the scores of theother judges and eliminates the highest and lowest ones. The head judgecomputes an athlete’s final score by averaging the two middle scores. If thedifference between the two middle scores exceeds a certain range, the head ofjudge’s own score is used as a guide in adjusting the final score. At aninternational competition, each team’s top five individual all-around scoresare added together for the team score.
In women’s competition, there are seven judges, including a head judge.The highest and lowest scores of the six other judges are dropped and theremaining four are averaged to produce the final score.
Speech Exercises
Ex. 1. Answer the followingquestions:
1. What does judginginvolve?
2. What do the judges ofgymnastics competitions watch for?
3. What do the judges ofgymnastics competitions base their scores on?
4. Which is a perfectscore for any gymnastics event?
5. What do the judgessubtract points or tenths of a point for?
6. What actions do thejudges award bonus points for?
7. How many judges arethere in the men’s gymnastics competitions?
8. What are the headjudge’s duties?
9. How does a gymnast getan average mark (score)?
10. When is the head judge’s own score used?
11. How is the team score determined at theinternational competition?
12. How many judges are there in the women’scompetition?
13. How is the final score in the women’sgymnastics competition produced?
Ex. 2. Say what instruction you would give to a would-bejudge.
Ex. 3. Say what you know about:
• judges ingymnastics competitions
• the evaluation ofroutines
• possibility forformer gymnasts to become judges
Task VIII.a) Skim the text to understand what it is about. b)Time your reading. Its good if you can read this text for 75 words per minute.GymnastsAnd Their Training
The ideal body type for gymnastics is short and light. Gymnastics skillsrequire great strength and flexibility, as well as balance and explosive power.Ages and sizes of competitive gymnasts have been decreasing progressively astheir selection and training has become more demanding. The two top femalegymnasts in the 1992 Olympics were 15 years old, 137 centimetres (4 feet,6 inches) tall, and one weighed 31.7 kilograms (70 pounds) and the other31.3 kilograms (69 pounds).
To produce the strength, flexibility, and poweressential for competitive gymnastics requires long hours of strenuous practice,and training procedures are designed to develop not only these physicalqualities but also the great courage required to perform intrinsicallydangerous movements (1).
In socialist societies such as the former Soviet Union, other EasternEuropean countries, China, and Cuba, young children selected on the basis ofbody type and other physical attributes were given opportunities to developinto competitive gymnasts through participation in state-supported trainingfacilities (2) and special schools. In countries such as the United States, thedevelopment of young gymnasts has been carried out in schools and organisationssuch as Turners, Sokols, and YMCAs. However, the intensity and level of workrequired to produce elite gymnasts today is available only in private trainingfacilities, usually paid for by parents. Recognising the financial cost ofthese private facilities, USA Gymnastics initiated a programme of stipends paidto a small number of the most talented young gymnasts to offset their trainingcosts. Male gymnasts tend to maintain and even improve performances beyond thepeak age for female gymnasts, and their training may continue during collegeyears with the support of athletic scholarships. Collegiate gymnastics is alsoavailable for females, but today college-age women are generally considered tooold to be involved in the highest level of the sport. One of the most importantcontributions to the development of gymnastics in the United States was theestablishment of the USGF Junior Olympics programme, which provides compulsoryexercises and guidelines for several levels of age-group competition for bothgirls and boys.Notes
(1) intrinsically dangerous movements – связанные с большим риском
(2) state-supported training facilities – государственные спортивные базы
с) Answer the following questions. If necessary, look through the textagain:
1. What is the ideal body type for a gymnast?
2. What quality do gymnastics skills require?
3. Why have age and size of competitivegymnasts been decreasing?
4. How are the strength, flexibility, andpower, essential for competitive gymnastics, produced?
5. How were young gymnasts selected insocialist societies?
6. How are young gymnasts selected in the USA?
7. Where are elite gymnasts trained in the USA?
8. What was one of themost important contributions to the development of gymnastics in the United States?
9. What does the USYF Junior Olympic programmeprovide?
Task IX.Read the text without the help of a dictionaryHistory
The origin of gymnastics can be traced back to the ancient civilisationsof China, Persia, India and Greece.
Most of the current competitive exercises may be attributed to theGerman, Jahn, but the ancient civilisations practised the sport. The Chinesehad mass displays of free exercises, as they do at present, and both thePersians and the Indians followed a strict code of physical exercise. But itwas the Greeks who really started to modernise the sport.
The distinguished physician, Galen, provided some of the earliest literatureon the sport and showed how knowledgeable the Greeks were about itsfundamentals. Activities like rope-climbing were included in the ancientOlympic Games and, with the rise of the Roman Empire, the Greek method ofphysical culture spread.
Among the events the Romans introduced was the wooden horse on which theypractised mounting and dismounting. Most of the exercises were used formilitary preparation, but when the ancient Olympic Games were abolished thesport fell into decline for nearly 1,500 years.
It was revived initially by men like Muth, Salzman, and Ling.
(1) Muth’s book, “Gymnastics for Youth”, is the first major work on thesubject, and Ling, a Swede, regulated a series of free exercises which a numberof countries adopted. But the man who made the major contribution to the sportwas Jahn. His invention of events like the parallel bars and the rings and hisroutines for the horizontal bars helped greatly with the modernisation ofgymnastics. There was a clash of views between Ling and Jahn, since the Swedefelt that gymnastics was an educational system while Jahn viewed it as a clubactivity. Ling’s movements were more rhythmic and fluent while Jahn gave moreemphasis to strength movements.
Modern gymnastics is a mixture of both schools – the beauty of the floorexercises routines being balanced by the rugged power needed for the rings andparallel bars. But it is fair to say that Jahn was the more influential of thepair, for his Turnplatz, opened in Berlin in 1811, was an open-air gymnasiumwhich started the spread of the sport throughout Europe. Clubs were founded in Britain and a number of schools included physical training in their curriculum. A majorevent in British gymnastics occurred in 1860 when the army selected 12 NCO's(National Committee officials) and formed them into the Army Gymnastic Staff,later the Army Physical Training Corps. The Army, realising after the CrimeanWar that soldiers needed to be fit, were in the forefront of the expansion ofthe sport in Britain. The leading clubs joined in 1890 to form the AmateurGymnastic Association and the first championship was in 1896 – the year of thefirst modern Olympic Games.
After World War II, and especially since the early 1960s, gymnastics hasgrown phenomenally in the United States. Much of this growth has been due tothe greatly increased coverage of gymnastics on television, and especially tothe Olympic performances of Olga Korbut in 1972 and Nadia Comaneci in 1976.
International gymnastics competition before World War II was dominated byWestern European countries. Except for the anomalous 1904 Games in St. Louis, Americans did not participate in Olympic gymnastics until 1920. With theentrance of the Soviet Union into Olympic competition in 1952 and the rise of Japan as a gymnastics power, the picture changed radically. Over this period, men’s teammedals were won by the Soviet Union (10), Japan (9), East Germany (5), China (2), Finland (2), and one each by the United States, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland. Fewer countries participated in women’s gymnastics during thisperiod and the Soviet Union was even more dominant, winning the team gold medalin all ten Olympic Games in which they participated (Romania won in 1984). Mostindividual medals were won by the Soviet Union (39.4 per cent) and Japan (30.5 per cent), with others going to China (6.1 per cent), East Germany (4.5 percent), the United States (3.7 per cent), and 13 other countries (all Europeanexcept for three medals to the two Koreas, for a total of 15.8 per cent). Inthe 1996 Olympics Russia won the overall team gold and 5 individual medals; Belarus took 4.
In the 1984 Olympic Games 19 countries were represented (2 entries areallowed per country), and Canada, Romania, and West Germany won the gold,silver, and bronze all-around medals. In both 1988 and 1992, 23 countries wererepresented, and the Soviet Union (called the Unified Team in 1992) won boththe gold and bronze. In 1996 Spain won the team gold, Bulgaria the silver, and Russia the bronze. Modern Gymnastics World Championships have been held since 1963.
Assignment
1. Which of thistopics does the text deal with?
a) the Greek method oftraining;
b) gymnastics in ancientcivilisations;
c) gymnastics declinationand revival;
d) Muth, Salzman and Ling;
e) Turnplatz;
f) men’s gymnastics;
g) major event in Britishgymnastics;
h) development ofgymnastics in Great Britain and the USA;
i) rhythmic gymnastics.
2. Write down thethemes found in the text in the order corresponding to the context of the text.You will get the outline of the text.
3. Divide the wholetext into fragments corresponding to the items of the outline. Mind that afragment may be equal to a paragraph or sometimes embrace several paragraphs.
4. Rereadparagraphs 1–3 and find the gymnastics event that was included in the ancientOlympics.
5. Find sentencesproving that modern gymnastics is a mixture of schools.
6. Reread paragraph7. Find sentences proving that the influence of the gymnasts from the Soviet Union on the International gymnastics was considerable.
7. Reproduce thecontents of the text using answers to the following questions. If necessary,look through the text again:
1. Did ancientcivilisations practise gymnastics? 2. Who started to modernise the sport? 3.Who showed how knowledgeable the Greeks were about gymnastics fundamentals? 4.What events were introduces by the Romans? 5. What period did gymnastics fallinto decline for? 6. Who revived gymnastics? 7. What is the first major work ongymnastics? 8. Who made the major contribution to gymnastics? 9. What eventswere invented by Jahn? 10. How did Turnplatz look? 11. When were gymnasticscubs founded in Berlin? 12. When did gymnastics grow phenomenally in the United States? 13. What has this growth been due to? 14. What countries dominated ingymnastics before World War II in? 15. When did the picture radically change ingymnastics? 16. Since when have modern gymnastics World championships beenheld?
Task X.Look through the text and say what kind ofinformation it contains. What achievements of Belarusian gymnasts does theauthor pay special attention to? Indicate the corresponding paragraphs.Belarusiangymnasts
Belarusian gymnasts are traditionally very successful at Olympic Games.Nikolai Miligulo from Minsk was the first Belarusian to represent the state inthis Olympic event. He won the silver team medal at the XVII Olympics in Rome.Helen Volchetskaya was the first of the female gymnasts to open the Olympics.She won a gold medal in women’s team competition in Tokyo. Larisa Petric madean excellent showing at the Mexico Olympics. She returned home with threeprizes for the first places in a team contests and floor exercises and thethird prize for winning the beam.
A really fantastic at the XX Olympic Games in Munich was the performanceof Olga Korbut. She did some particularly complicated parts on the beam anduneven bars which have now become specific terms bearing her name – “Korbutsomersault”, “Korbut back flip”, etc. One of her horse vaults has remainedunique because no other gymnast has ever done it. In Montreal she won a goldmedal in women’s team competition and silver medal at asymmetric bars.
Concerning the Belarusian school of gymnastics, one should note that itis constantly in advance. Some athletes quit the podium, others step into theirshoes. There are too many of them to be named. But one just cannot imagineBelarusian gymnastics without Antonina Koshel who became a gold medallist atthe 20th Olympics for team victory or Tamara Lazakovich who at thesame games took four prizes, one of them being gold. These girls largelycontributed to the enhancing of the glory of Soviet sport.
After that came Nelly Kim. Her superb skill was marked with five Olympictitles. Besides she became the all-round world champion.
When on the podium, she never looked down in the mouth. She knew how tosmile even when she was sick at heart and felt like crying. It is not withoutreason that journalists nicknamed her a “girl of iron”.
A certain episode comes to mind. As Nelly was doing her optionalprogramme (floor exercises) at the Moscow Olympics the music suddenly began to“wow”. And it happened shortly after starting. The sound gradually died away.The hall became unusually quiet.
With a charming smile (as if nothing were really happening) Nelly stoppedand waited for the music to recommence. Starting her combination all overagain, she did it with superb mastery and was deservedly given a high rating –9.95 points.
At the XXIV Olympic Games in Seoul the USSR national team included twotrainees of Belarusian coaches – Svetlana Boginskaya and Svetlana Bayitova.
The good traditions were kept up by a new generation of Belarusian femalegymnasts. Despite their youth they had already managed to achieve quite a lot.Here are a few facts from their sporting biographies: Svetlana Boginskaya wasborn in 1973, Master of Sports International Class. Pupil of a sports boardingschool. All-around junior champion (FRG, 1986), team event silver medallist atthe World championship and bronze medallist in vault (Netherlands, 1987),many-time winner and title-holder at international contests, silver medallistin beam competition for the National Cup (1988).
Svetlana Bayitova was born in 1972. Master of Sports International Class,all-around national champion, 1986, silver medallist at the USSR NationalChampionship, 1987, many-time winner and prize-holder at National Championshipsin separate team events, won silver in team events at the 1987 Worldchampionship.
Olga Bicherova, the 1981 all-around world champion describes Bayitova inthis way: “She shows virtuosity and has a unique programme on the bars”.
A. Neverovich, director of the gymnastics school whichS. Boginskaya attended:
“Boginskaya is very hardworking and diligent, she possesses greatuntapped reserves that can yet be used for further development. At the sametime, the girl has an uneven temper, so one should handle her with care”.
Upon winning the gold medal in the team event Svetlana Boginskayacontinued to contend for more prizes. In the all-round world championshipcontest she picked up bronze, being second only to her team mate YelenaShushunova and Rumanian Daniel Silivash. On the closing day of the gymnasticsperformance, she added another gold medal to her collection. She gained it inthe finals at the apparatus, superbly executing a vault. Her floor exercisesbrought her silver.
How was her success assessed by the experts? Here isthe opinion of Leonid Arkayev, the gymnastics department chief of the USSRSports Committee:
“Svetlana has lived up to our expectations, we never suspected she couldchallenge the leaders – Shushunova and Silivash. I believe that this youngwoman from Minsk is our happy Olympic find”.
The Olympic champion Victor Klimenko:
“In this tough struggle Svetlana never lost her presence of mind, shedisplayed her best qualities – will-power, plasticity and grace of movements.Her programme is no less complicated than that shown by the leaders. At theXXV Olympic Games Svetlana Boginskaya won a gold medal again. But a real heroof the Olympic Game was Vitali Shcherbo who won 6 gold medals”.
Assignments
1. Reread paragraph 1 and state its maintheme. Which sentence gives very briefly the most important information andthus can be called the key sentence of the paragraph?
2. Reread paragraph 2–4.What theme connects them?
3. Find the sentence explaining why thejournalists nicknamed Nelly Kim a “girl of iron”.
4. Read the facts from Svetlana Boginskaya andSvetlana Bayitova's sporting biographies.
5. Divide the text into fragments and entitlethem.
6. Write an annotation of the text. Make useof such expressions as “to deal with, to emphasise, to be devoted to”. Thefirst sentence can reflect the general character of the text. Take intoconsideration the title. The other 3 or 4 sentences should reflect the mainthemes of the fragments.
Task XI.Read the text.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a separate type of gymnastics competition. Inrhythmic gymnastics, gymnasts perform a dance routine while executingmanoeuvres and stunts with a piece of hand-held equipment. The equipment may bea ball, club, hoop, ribbon, or rope. Rhythmic gymnasts perform on a mat similarto the one used in floor exercise competition. The routines are performed tomusic and last from 60 to 90 seconds. Contestants are judged on their graceand the difficulty of their manoeuvres, including the skill with which theyrelease and catch the equipment. In 1984, rhythmic gymnastics became an eventat the summer Olympic Games.
Rhythmic gymnastics is a combination of gymnastics and ballet.
It was in the USSR that rhythmic gymnastics as an independent form ofsports was born. A higher school of plastic movements was opened in Leningrad in 1934, attached to the Lesgaft Physical Training Institute: although there hadbeen many plastic movement studios earlier. One of the teachers was ZinaidaVerbova, the pioneer of rhythmic gymnastics, formerly a well-known dancer.
The conditions for training being very simple rhythmic gymnastics soonattained great popularity. Girls began showing their skill at demonstrationcontests.
But sport in its very essence implying large-scale contests, in 1947rhythmic gymnastics was included in the general sports programme. After havinggiven sporting stimulus in addition to aesthetic hundred thousands of girlsbegan seriously to go in for rhythmic gymnastics. All arguments about whetherrhythmic gymnastics should be regarded as sport having been finished it becamevery popular in our country. Rhythmic gymnastics means the perfect mastery ofvarious dance elements, the ability to perform complicated turns and leaps,maintain perfect balance and carry out a large variety of acrobatic movements.
Anything new and interesting is always quickly taken up. And this hasbeen the case with rhythmic gymnastics. It was enough for the girls to showtheir art in other countries and this purely Russian type of gymnastics soonbecame international. The first World Championship in 1963 in Budapest gaveSoviet gymnasts a double victory.
The first Belarusian Olympic Champion in rhythmic gymnastics becameMarina Lobach in Seoul.
Marina was not agreenhorn when she went in Seoul. Her sporting biography was highlypresentable: a many-time winner of the National Cup, the 1988 all-roundchampion of the country, the 1988 World and European champion in individualrhythmic gymnastics events and what she did on the mat in Seoul was nothingshort of a miracle. Each of her performances was acclaimed with a storm ofapplause and the judges gave Marina’s virtuosity the 10.0 point rating.Assignment
I. Divide the text intofragments in accordance with their contents. Entitle each fragment.
II. Using the material of the paragraphs and your own knowledge ofrhythmic gymnastics answer the following questions:
1. What is rhythmicgymnastics?
2. What do gymnasts do inthis sport?
3. How are the routinesperformed in rhythmic gymnastics?
4. How are contestantsjudged in rhythmic gymnastics?
5. When did rhythmicgymnastics become an event in the Summer Olympic Games?
6. When did the sportbegin?
7. Where was rhythmicgymnastics as an independent form of sports born?
8. Who is considered thepioneer of rhythmic gymnastics?
9. Why did rhythmicgymnastics attain great popularity?
10. Who is the firstBelarusian Olympic Champion in rhythmic gymnastics?
III. Give the main points of the history of rhythmic gymnastics.
Автор:
Жулкевская, Г. В. Gymnastics=Гимнастика: учеб. пособие по англ. яз. для студентов II курса БГУФК /Г. В. Жулкевская; Бел. гос. ун-т физ. культуры. – 2-е изд. – Мн.:БГУФК, 2005. – 31 с.