Middle School
Worksheets
As You Watch the Olympics...
The Olympics are major events that bring together athletes from around the world. There are Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympics. Each competition is held every four years. Since 1994, they have been held in separate four-year cycles. Now, every even-numbered year has one or the other of the Olympic Games. These sporting events unite people around the celebration of competition, goal setting, citizenship, and achievement. As you watch Olympic events, here are a collection of thoughts and observations to consider.
Records and Medals: It is exciting to watch athletes earn gold, silver, or bronze medals for their countries. They stand proudly on the podium and - for a gold medal - respectfully listen to the national anthem of their land. Additionally, the Olympics provide an opportunity for the setting of new world records in different events. Some records stand for a very long time, while others are broken regularly. As time goes on, athletes seem to be able to accomplish more and more in their sport, perhaps because of more sophisticated training techniques and understanding of how the body works. And, speaking of work...
Hard Work: Have you ever considered what an Olympic athlete goes through in his or her attempt for a medal? Sometimes I think we forget that most of an athlete's life is dedicated to pursuing that dream. Each of the Summer or Winter Olympics is held only once every four years; there are only a few chances in a lifetime for someone to earn a medal or set a new record. Athletes literally spend years of their lives in training, practicing and polishing skills for the opportunity to compete. They are extremely dedicated and may not be able to pursue other interests because of the hours they spend training.
