The Greatest Show onEarth

The Olympic Gamesare the greatest festival of sport in the world.Every four years,a hundred ormore

countries send theirbest sportsmen to compete for the highest honors in sport. As many as 6,000people take

part in over 20sports.For the winners,there are gold medals and glory. But there ishonor,too,for all who

compete,win orlose.That is the spirit of the Olympics一to take part is what matters.

The Olympic Gamesalways start in a bright color and action.The teams of all the nations paradein the

opening ceremony andmarch round the track.The custom is for the Greek team to march in first. Forit was

in Greece that theOlympics began.The team of the country where the Games are being held一the host coun-

try一marches in last.

The runner with theOlympic torch then enters the stadium and lights the flame.A sportsman from the

host country takesthe Olympic oath on behalf of all the competitors.The judges and officials alsotake an

oath.After thesportsmen march out of the stadium,the host country puts on a wonderfuldisplay.

The competitionsbegin the next day.There are usually more than twenty sports in the Games.Therule

is that there mustbe at least fifteen.The main events are in track and field,but it is a few daysbefore these

sports start.Eachday the competitors take part in a different sport一riding,shooting,swimming,and cross-

country running.Points are gained for each event.Medals are awarded for the individual winnersand for

national teams.

More and more womenare taking part in the games.They first competed in 1900,in tennis and golf,

which are no longerheld in the Olympics.Women's swimming events were introduced in 1912.But it was

not until 1928 thatthere were any track and field events for women.Now,they compete in all buthalf a dozen

of the sports.Inhorse riding,shooting,and boat racing,they may compete in the same events asthe men.Who takes theOlympic oath?

A.A judge from aforeign country.

B.An officer fromthe host country.

C.A Greek sportsman.

D.A sportsman fromthe host country.