News-based English language activities from the global newspaper

August 2010

Materials sheet Article: London Olympics to

set record for VIP visits
1 Olympic chiefs are preparing for up to 120 heads of state to
attend the 2012 London games, the biggest gathering of world
leaders ever held in Britain. Attractions include beach volleyball
near Buckingham Palace and archery close to the West End’s
famous boutiques.

2 Some 48 presidents, sheikhs, kings and queens went to

Athens in 2004, and 82 went to Beijing in 2008. The official
explanation for the increase in interest in the London Olympics
is the UK capital’s “international prominence and close
proximity to Europe”.

3 But the city’s luxury shops, elegant hotels and top restaurants
The capital celebrates winning the games David Levene
add to an event with an already baffling range of contests.
These include Graeco-Roman wrestling, the 50km walk and
Student tasks synchronised swimming.

1 Guess the answers to these questions. Then read the 4 Most leaders are expected to attend the opening ceremony
article and complete the gaps. staged by the Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle and
a Leaders also want to go to London because organisers will face a huge diplomatic and security headache in
of its their preparations for the day.
, and
. 5 Each head of state is expected to have his or her own “dignitary
programme” organised by the Foreign Office to prevent
b A famous
diplomatic difficulties. Past hosts of international meetings
will create the opening
warn that hotel rooms are a particular problem.
ceremony.
6 “They bring huge entourages, because they need tight security
c One problem for the organisers is and they need to be looked after,” said an organiser of the 2009
finding World Economic Forum in Switzerland, which had 38 heads of
for the VIPs. state.

d The heads of state often come with large 7 “The problem we always have is the pecking order about
. who gets what rooms in what hotels. So for example if the US
secretary of state decides to come at the last minute, it throws
e There can be a big problem if a VIP wants to everything up in the air.”
come at the
. 8 The International Olympic Committee said recent reports
about preparations for the London Olympics were very
f The IOC feels really positive. “We are absolutely convinced that we will have
about the London Olympics. excellent games in 2012,” said IOC representative Denis
Oswald.

Original article by Robert Booth, rewritten by

Janet Hardy-Gould