This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of building sports facilities for top athletes from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Sports Facilities

Some countries invest in specialized sports facilities for top athletes but not for the average people.

Is this a positive or negative development?

Heavy investment in sports facilities aimed at professional athletes is common in countries that want to compete in international events. This is a positive development for national pride but negative on the whole as it takes funding away from the average citizen.

Proponents of this practice would argue that it brings the nation together. The best examples of this relate to international competitions like the summer and winter Olympics. China and the United States have famously invested millions in building sports facilities for prospective Olympians and the results in terms of medals justify the expenditure. The wider implications for national unity come from an entire country watching the telecasts and rooting together. Divisive domestic disputes are temporarily forgotten as everyone focuses on the progress of their country. Much of this would be impossible without specialised sports facilities for the best competitors.

However, these facilities benefit a select few over the majority. Funding for such facilities is a limited part of a federal budget that must cover essential areas like health, education, and the military. Any money diverted towards preparing world-class athletes for international competitions is to some extent a waste as it cuts into the budget for facilities for average people. For example, many inner city youths in poorer neighborhoods lack access to parks and such facilities and this has been identified as one of the factors that allows for poverty to be inherited over generations. Direct the funding away from these expensive gyms for top athletes and it would be possible to build many more facilities that serve a much wider and underserved segment of the population.

In conclusion, despite the less tangible benefits to national cohesiveness, this a negative on level as it favours a talented minority. More resources should be allocated towards facilities for those in greater need.

Analysis

1. Heavy investment in sports facilities aimed at professional athletes is common in countries that want to compete in international events. 2. This is a positive development for national pride but negative on the whole as it takes funding away from the average citizen.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear overall opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Proponents of this practice would argue that it brings the nation together. 2. The best examples of this relate to international competitions like the summer and winter Olympics. 3. China and the United States have famously invested millions in building sports facilities for prospective Olympians and the results in terms of medals justify the expenditure. 4. The wider implications for national unity come from an entire country watching the telecasts and rooting together. 5. Divisive domestic disputes are temporarily forgotten as everyone focuses on the progress of their country. 6. Much of this would be impossible without specialised sports facilities for the best competitors.

1. Write a topic sentences with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Start an example.
3. Develop the example.
4. Continue developing it.
5. Keep developing it and don’t switch to a new main idea.
6. Relate it back to your topic sentence.

1. However, these facilities benefit a select few over the majority. 2. Funding for such facilities is a limited part of a federal budget that must cover essential areas like health, education, and the military. 3. Any money diverted towards preparing world-class athletes for international competitions is to some extent a waste as it cuts into the budget for facilities for average people. 4. For example, many inner city youths in poorer neighborhoods lack access to parks and such facilities and this has been identified as one of the factors that allows for poverty to be inherited over generations. 5. Direct the funding away from these expensive gyms for top athletes and it would be possible to build many more facilities that serve a much wider and underserved segment of the population.

1. Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain it.
3. Begin to develop it.
4. Use a specific example.
5. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, despite the less tangible benefits to national cohesiveness, this a negative on level as it favours a talented minority. 2. More resources should be allocated towards facilities for those in greater need.

1. Repeat your opinion and summarise your ideas.
2. Add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Heavy investment in sports facilities aimed at professional athletes is common in countries that want to compete in international events. This is a positive development for national pride but negative on the whole as it takes funding away from the average citizen.

Proponents of this practice would argue that it brings the nation together. The best examples of this relate to international competitions like the summer and winter Olympics. China and the United States have famously invested millions in building sports facilities for prospective Olympians and the results in terms of medals justify the expenditure. The wider implications for national unity come from an entire country watching the telecasts and rooting together. Divisive domestic disputes are temporarily forgotten as everyone focuses on the progress of their country. Much of this would be impossible without specialised sports facilities for the best competitors.

However, these facilities benefit a select few over the majority. Funding for such facilities is a limited part of a federal budget that must cover essential areas like health, education, and the military. Any money diverted towards preparing world-class athletes for international competitions is to some extent a waste as it cuts into the budget for facilities for average people. For example, many inner city youths in poorer neighborhoods lack access to parks and such facilities and this has been identified as one of the factors that allows for poverty to be inherited over generations. Direct the funding away from these expensive gyms for top athletes and it would be possible to build many more facilities that serve a much wider and underserved segment of the population.

In conclusion, despite the less tangible benefits to national cohesiveness, this a negative on level as it favours a talented minority. More resources should be allocated towards facilities for those in greater need.

Answers

heavy investment a lot of money put into

aimed at for

compete in international events the Olympics, World Cup, etc.

national pride caring about your country

negative on the whole bad on level

takes funding away from diverts money from

average citizen normal person

proponents advocates

practice development

brings the nation together unifies the country

international competitions Olympics, World Cup, etc.

summer and winter Olympics held every 4 years either in the summer or winter

famously invested millions well-known put lots of money into

prospective Olympians potential Olympic athletes

justify the expenditure good reason for the money

wider implications larger effects

national unity bringing a country together

entire country whole nation

telecasts TV broadcasts

rooting wanting to win

divisive domestic disputes dividing arguments in a country

temporarily not permanent

focuses on directed towards

progress moving forward

much of this a lot of

specialised sports facilities just for doing sports

best competitors strongest athletes

a select few some of

majority most of

limited part small piece of

federal budget money the government has to spend

cover essential areas have money for important parts

diverted towards sent in the direction of

world-class athletes best sports people

to some extent to a degree

waste not used well

cuts into takes away from

inner city youths kids living in the city

lack access can’t go to

identified pinpointed

one of the factors one element

poverty to be inherited over generations families staying poor over time

direct send towards

wider broader

underserved don’t get enough

less tangible benefits not as concrete advantages

national cohesiveness brings a country together

on level overall

favours benefits

talented minority just some people with a lot of ability

resources money, time, etc.

allocated sent to

greater need more important for

Pronunciation

ˈhɛvi ɪnˈvɛstmənt 
eɪmd æt 
kəmˈpiːt ɪn ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ɪˈvɛnts
ˈnæʃənl praɪd 
ˈnɛgətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl 
teɪks ˈfʌndɪŋ əˈweɪ frɒm 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈsɪtɪzn
prəˈpəʊnənts 
ˈpræktɪs 
brɪŋz ðə ˈneɪʃən təˈgɛðə
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃənz 
ˈsʌmər ænd ˈwɪntər əʊˈlɪmpɪks
ˈfeɪməsli ɪnˈvɛstɪd ˈmɪljənz 
prəsˈpɛktɪv əʊˈlɪmpɪənz 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ði ɪksˈpɛndɪʧə
ˈwaɪdər ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz 
ˈnæʃənl ˈjuːnɪti 
ɪnˈtaɪə ˈkʌntri 
ˈtɛlɪkɑːsts 
ˈruːtɪŋ 
dɪˈvaɪsɪv dəʊˈmɛstɪk dɪsˈpjuːts 
ˈtɛmpərərɪli 
ˈfəʊkəsɪz ɒn 
ˈprəʊgrəs 
mʌʧ ɒv ðɪs 
ˈspɛʃ(ə)laɪzd spɔːts fəˈsɪlɪtiz 
bɛst kəmˈpɛtɪtəz
ə sɪˈlɛkt fjuː 
məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈlɪmɪtɪd pɑːt 
ˈfɛdərəl ˈbʌʤɪt 
ˈkʌvər ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈeərɪəz 
daɪˈvɜːtɪd təˈwɔːdz 
wɜːld-klɑːs ˈæθliːts 
tuː sʌm ɪksˈtɛnt 
weɪst 
kʌts ˈɪntuː 
ˈɪnə ˈsɪti juːθs 
læk ˈæksɛs 
aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪd 
wʌn ɒv ðə ˈfæktəz 
ˈpɒvəti tuː biː ɪnˈhɛrɪtɪd ˈəʊvə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
dɪˈrɛkt 
ˈwaɪdə 
ˈʌndəsɜːvd 
lɛs ˈtænʤəbl ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˈnæʃənl kəʊˈhiːsɪvnəs
ɒn ˈlɛvl 
ˈfeɪvəz 
ˈtæləntɪd maɪˈnɒrɪti
rɪˈsɔːsɪz 
ˈæləʊkeɪtɪd 
ˈgreɪtə niːd

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

H___________________t in sports facilities a_______________t professional athletes is common in countries that want to c______________________________s. This is a positive development for n__________________e but n__________________e as it t__________________m the a______________n.

P_______________s of this p___________e would argue that it b____________________r. The best examples of this relate to i___________________________s like the s_________________________________s. China and the United States have f_________________________________s in building sports facilities for p_______________________s and the results in terms of medals j____________________________e. The w___________________s for n_________________y come from an e__________________y watching the t_____________s and r________g together. D____________________________s are t__________________y forgotten as everyone f_____________n the p___________s of their country. M_____________s would be impossible without s_______________________s for the b________________s.

However, these facilities benefit a_______________w over the m____________y. Funding for such facilities is a l_________________t of a f________________t that must c____________________s like health, education, and the military. Any money d___________________s preparing w___________________s for international competitions is t______________t a w_______e as it c__________o the budget for facilities for average people. For example, many i__________________s in poorer neighborhoods l_____________s to parks and such facilities and this has been i_____________d as o_______________s that allows for p____________________________________________s. D_________t the funding away from these expensive gyms for top athletes and it would be possible to build many more facilities that serve a much w________r and u___________________d segment of the population.

In conclusion, despite the l________________________s to n_______________________s, this a negative o___________l as it f____________s a t______________________y. More r________________s should be a_______________d towards facilities for those in g_______________d.

Listening Practice

Watch more about these facilities below:

Reading Practice

Read about this topic here as well:

https://www.mustdobrisbane.com/features/best-kids-parks-brisbane-inner-city

Speaking Practice

Answer the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Sport

1. What sport do you like?
2. Do you prefer team or individual sports?
3. Who is your favourite sports star?
4. What is the most popular sport in your country?

Writing Practice

Write about the related topic below and check with my sample answer:

One good way to promote world peace is through international sporting events.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: International Sporting Events