1 | P a g e d i s c o v e r 2 0 1 2 L o n d o n O l y m p i c s

e a t s l e e p d r e a m e n g l i s h . w o r d p r e s s . c o m a n d o u r f a c e b o o k p a g e

Discover the 2012 London Olympics

Podcast contents

Part 1 Introduction

0.00 – 0.55

Part 2 The Stadium

1.06 – 2.43

Part 3 Legacy and the Environment

2.51 – 4.05

Part 4 Café Interview

4.15 – 5.35

Part 5 Outro

5.48 – 6.06

Worksheet contents

Section 1 – True/false listening

Section 2 – Events and their effects

vocabulary

Section 3 – Event and their effects

vocabulary definitions

Section 4 – Extra vocabulary finder

Section 5 – Language analysis

Section 6 – Extra vocabulary booster from

the podcast

Section 7 – Animal idioms vocabulary bonus

Section 8 – Worksheet vocabulary gap fill

Section 9 – Your turn

Section 10 – Photos of the Olympic site

Worksheet answers

Transcript

2 | P a g e d i s c o v e r 2 0 1 2 L o n d o n O l y m p i c s

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Section 1 – True/false listening

Listen and decide if these statements are true or false

1) The Beijing Olympics were impressive. T/F

2) London has hosted 3 Olympic games. T/F

3) The stadium cost more money to build than the organisers had

planned. T/F

4) The athletics stadium will be made smaller after the Olympics.

T/F

5) Athletes will have to take public transport to reach the Olympic

site. T/F

6) The area has become an attraction for tourists. T/F

7) The café worker believes the Olympics are good for the area.

T/F

8) The area is changing quickly. T/F

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Section 2 – Events and their effects vocabulary

Listen again and select the correct answer

Part 1 0.00 – 0.55

1) Beijing showed the world how to put an

event.

2) an event of / , glamour and

grandeur.

Part 2 1.06 – 2.43

3) London won the bid to the 2012

Olympics.

4) It’s been seven years of hard work and

5) The of any

Olympics is the athletics stadium.

6) It’s where the and closing

ceremony are held.

7) and the events like the

100 metres.

8) They have constructed an 80,000

stadium.

9) On time and budget.

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Part 3 2.51 – 4.05

10) The buzzword for this Olympics has been

.

11) The of

this part of East London has been central.

12) What was once a deprived area is now

.

13) The biggest lesson the organisers have learned

from past Olympic Games is being left with

elephants.

14) The carbon of the

games has also been critically important for the

organisers.

15) A

public transport system will bring all the spectators to

the games.

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Section 3 – Events and their affects vocabulary

definitions

Put the vocabulary from section 2 into the correct gap

1) A _______ event is the main one that will attract the most attention

and interest (noun).

2) ________ is something that attracts peoples’ attention because it is

fashionable or impressive (noun).

3) If you ________ something you provide the facilities or space for it

(verb).

4) The time or date something has to be done is a _____________

(noun).

5) __________ is the process of improving an area (noun).

6) A ____________ area or business is one that is growing,

developing and becoming successful (adjective).

7) Your _____________ is the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse

gases you emit (noun).

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8) The most important part or feature of something is the

_____________ (noun).

9) If something is ___________ then it cost less than you had

expected and planned for (adjective).

10) __________ is the wider and longer-lasting impact something has

after it has finished or ended (noun).

11) Something that cost a lot of money but has no use is called a

____________________ (noun).

12) If we ___________ something it means we produce something for

the benefit of others (phrasal verb).

13) If something is ______________ it is really modern and uses the

most recent methods or technology (adjective).

14) The __________ ceremony is an event at the beginning of an

Olympics or other important event (noun).

15) The total amount that can be contained by something is the

_____________ (noun).

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Section 4 – Extra vocabulary finder

Read the descriptions and try and remember the

vocabulary item or phrase used in the podcast.

Part 1 0.00 – 0.55

1) The Beijing Olympics was described as being better than any other

Olympics. Can you remember the adjective used to say this?

________________

Part 2 1.06 – 2.43

2) In the podcast Tom asks you to remember the Bird’s Nest stadium in

Beijing, what verb phrase does he use to say this?

_________________

3) The new sculpture will allow visitors to see the Olympic site and

London from a high position in the air. Can you remember the idiom

used?

____________________

4) Tom gives his opinion about the sculpture saying that to begin with

he didn’t like it but he is starting to change his mind. What verb phrase

did he use?

_____________________

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Part 3 2.51 – 4.05

5) Legacy is a very important and frequently used word when people

talk about these Olympics games. What is the noun to describe these

kinds of words?

______________________

Part 4 4.15 – 5.35

6) The area has changed a lot in recent years with buildings being

improved, new businesses moving in and the area becoming wealthier.

This process is a noun.

_________________________

7) Adam, the café worker, uses an informal phrase to say that

something is a difficult subject which has caused some problems with

certain parts of the community.

_____________________________

8) Adam, the café worker, uses a phrase to say the good things and the

bad things. Can you remember what it is?

____________________

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Section 5 – Language analysis

Choose the two correct collocations and delete the

wrong one

an event/a show/an interview

a party/ a lesson/an event

player/ singer/ news story

holiday/community/business

facilities/personality/ technology

Section 6 – Extra vocabulary booster from the

podcast

- to prepare or get ready for

something i.e. I’m gearing up for my end of course exams.

– to postpone or not give one’s

opinion or verdict.

– a short term or temporary retail space i.e. A

pop up fashion boutique appeared for 3 weeks during the festival and then

disappeared.

– at a fast rate

– to suddenly start raining

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Section 7 – Animal idioms vocabulary bonus

In the podcast there are 2 idioms with animals in

them: a bird’s eye view and a white elephant. Here are five

more animal idioms

Match the animal to the idiomatic phrase

1) A dark __________ is someone who isn’t the favourite to win a

competition but they surprise everyone and win (noun).

2) The _________ share of something is the majority or largest

amount (noun).

3) A cash _________ is a product or business that generates an

unusually large amount of profit (noun).

4) If you have a ___________ of a time it means you have a really

good time (noun).

5) The under_______ is the competitor least likely to win (noun).

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Section 8 – Worksheet vocabulary gap fill

Using the any of the vocabulary from this worksheet,

fill the gaps with the correct word or phrase.

1) The government have built a ___________ space research facility

in the desert.

2) The ___________ of our bicentennial celebrations is a huge

concert in the main square.

3) The ___________ of my work involves travelling around the UK

but occasionally I get to travel abroad.

4) You can really see this area has gone through a period of

___________. There never used to be this many trendy cafes and bars and

the house prices are much higher.

5) You would have to say Manchester United are favourites to win the

league this year but I think Tottenham Hotspur are __________. They’ve

got a pretty good team this year.

6) I don’t think I’ll be able to meet the University _________ for

applications which means I’ll probably have to wait until next year to apply.

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Section 9 – Your turn

Choose one of the following options and record

yourself talking about them using the vocabulary from this

worksheet. You could consider some of these questions to

help you.

1) An event that happened in your town, city or

country

What event did your town, city or country host?

What was the centrepiece of the event?

Was there an opening or closing ceremony?

What was the atmosphere like whilst your town, city or country was

gearing up for the start of the event?

In hindsight what are the pluses and minuses to putting on an event like

this?

2) An area of your town, city or country that has

changed a lot over the years.

If you cast your mind back how was the area before all the changes?

Is it now thriving or has it become less desirable?

Did the area change rapidly or was it a slow process?

What were/are the main signs of gentrification or de-gentrification?

What are the pluses and minuses to all these changes?

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Section 10 – Photos from the Olympic Site

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Discover the 2012 London Olympics Answers

Section 1 – True or False

1) T

2) F London will be the third London Olympics

3) F It has cost less than expected

4) T

5) F They are going to walk

6) T

7) F There are positive things and negative things

8) T

Section 2 - Events and their affects vocabulary

1) Beijing showed the world how to put an event.

2) an event of , glamour and grandeur.

3) London won the bid to the 2012 Olympics.

4) It’s been seven years of hard work and

5) The of any Olympics is the athletics stadium.

6) It’s where the and closing ceremony are held.

7) . . . . and the events like the 100 metres.

8) They have constructed an 80,000 stadium.

9) On time and budget.

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10) The buzzword for this Olympics has been .

11) The of this part of East London has been central.

12) What was once a deprived area is now

13) The biggest lesson the organisers have learned from past Olympic games

is being left with elephants.

14) The carbon of the games has also been critically important for

the organisers.

15) A public transport system will bring all the spectators to

the games.

Section 3 – Events and their affects vocabulary definitions

1) A marquee event is the main one that will attract the most attention and interest

(noun).

2) Glitz is something that attracts peoples’ attention because it is fashionable or

impressive (noun).

3) If you host something you provide the facilities or space for it (verb).

4) The time or date something has to be done is a deadline (noun).

5) Regeneration is the process of improving an area (noun).

6) A thriving area or business is one that is growing, developing and becoming

successful (adjective).

7) Your carbon footprint is the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases you emit

(noun).

8) The most important part or feature of something is the centrepiece (noun).

9) If something is under budget then it cost less than you had expected and planned for

(adjective).

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10) Legacy is the wider and longer-lasting impact something has after it has finished or

ended (noun).

11) Something that cost a lot of money but has no use is called a white elepahnt

(noun).

12) If we put on something it means we produce something for the benefit of others

(phrasal verb).

13) If something is state of the art it is really modern and uses the most recent

methods or technology (adjective).

14) The opening ceremony is an event at the beginning of an Olympics or other

important event (noun).

15) The total amount that can be contained by something is the capacity (noun).

Section 4 – Extra vocabulary finder

1) second to none (adj)

2) to cast one’s mind back (verb)

3) bird’s eye view (noun)

4) to grow on somebody (verb)

5) buzzword (noun)

6) gentrification (noun)

7) a sticky issue (noun)

8) pluses and minuses (noun)

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Section 7 – Animal idioms vocabulary bonus

1) A dark horse is someone who isn’t the favourite to win a competition but

they surprise everyone and win (noun).

2) The lion’s share of something is the majority or largest amount (noun).

3) A cash cow is a product or business that generates an unusually large

amount of profit (noun).

4) If you have a whale of a time it means you have a really good time

(noun).

5) The underdog is the competitor least likely to win (noun).

Section 8 – Worksheet vocabulary gap fill

1) The government have built a state of the art space research facility in the desert.

2) The centrepiece of our bicentennial celebrations is a huge concert in the main

square.

3) The lion’s share of my work involves travelling around the UK but occasionally I get

to travel abroad.

4) You can really see this area has gone through a period of gentrification. There never

used to be this many trendy cafes and bars and the house prices are much higher.

5) You would have to say Manchester United are favourites to win the league this year

but I think Tottenham Hotspur are dark horses. They’ve got a pretty good team this

year.

6) I don’t think I’ll be able to meet the University deadline for applications which

means I’ll probably have to wait until next year to apply.

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Transcript

Part 1 0.00 – 0.55

In 2008 Beijing showed the world how to put on an event of

glitz, glamour and grandeur. It was second to none in terms of its

size and its magnificence. And so in 2012 the world’s focus turns to

London and asks “how are you going to match that?” Well, I’m here

at the Olympic Park to find out. Welcome to the 2012 London

Olympic Games.

Part 2 1.06 – 2.43

The centrepiece of any Olympics is the athletics stadium. It’s

where the opening and closing ceremonies are held and all the

marquee events like the 100 metre finals. You only have to cast

your mind back to Beijing 2008 to remember the iconic Birds’

Nest. Here in Stratford, East London they have constructed an

80,000 capacity stadium on time and under budget and today

despite the rain and clouds it looks wonderful.

If I look to my right I can see one of the most controversial

constructions on the Olympic site. It’s a huge spiralling sculpture

designed by Turner prize winning artist Anish Kapoor. Standing at

115 metres tall and known as the ArcelorMittal Orbit, it provides

visitors with a bird’s eye view of the Olympic park, the stadium

and London. To be honest it’s a real love or hate sculpture and

although it’s growing on me, I’m going to reserve my

judgement.

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Part 3 2.51 – 4.05

The buzzword for this Olympics had been legacy. This is the

idea that the Olympics should be much more than just a few weeks in

the summer of 2012. The regeneration of this part of East London

has been central in the whole identity of these games. What was once

a deprived area is now thriving.

The biggest lesson the organisers have learned from past

Olympic Games is being left with white elephants. For this reason

the athletics stadium is to be reduced in size and taken over by West

Ham football club. And indeed the basketball stadium will be

recycled at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

The carbon footprint of the games has also been critically

important for the organisers. A state of the art transport system

will bring all the spectators to the games: no cars, no fumes, less

pollution. The 17,500 athletes and officials are staying in the

Olympic village nearby and are able to walk to the site. After the

games this will be turned into a new residential area of London with

the postcode E20.

Well, I’ve seen new East London now I’m off to see the other

side of the story in old East London.

Part 4 4.15 – 5.35

I’m now walking along the street just minutes from the

Olympic Stadium to see how this part of East London used to be like.

There are lots of old factories and warehouses have been converted

into artists’ studios, pop up shops and TV studios. I guess with the

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Olympic Games has come gentrification. I’m going to pop into the

Counter café, just the other side of the canal from the Olympic

Stadium to see what change has meant for them.

Tom – Tell me how this area has changed.

Adam – Erm, it’s brought a lot more tourism than was here

before which is good for the café obviously. Erm, there’s been a lot

of change architecturally there’s been, a lot of buildings have been

removed in readiness for bridges and things like that.

T – Yeah, we can hear a lot of work across the canal over there.

Do you feel like the, er, the local people are benefitting or will

benefit from the Olympic stadium?

A – It depends, it’s a little bit of a sticky issue with some

people because I have some friends who had to leave their house

because they were going to build a bridge erm which they didn’t

build and then re let all the rooms and everyone had already been

forced to move out. Erm, also a lot of the area’s been changed to

bring the area up to what they are calling the standard of the

surrounding areas erm but that means removing some of the

character I feel. So it’s a, there’s pluses and minuses to it in my

opinion.

T – Did you get tickets for the Olympics?

A – No, I did not.

T – Did you apply?

A – I did not.

T – Ah well, ok fantastic, you can watch it on TV.

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Part 5 5.48 – 6.06

I think the heavens are about to open so I think it’s time to

leave the Olympic site. I hope you have enjoyed exploring this

rapidly changing and exciting part of London. Please make sure to

check out the accompanying worksheet with all of today’s vocabulary

and a full transcript. I’m Tom Rees, see you next time.