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.
I have an Ebook just published on this specific essay available on my Patreon now too!
Dave
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.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- 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.
- Write a topic sentences with a clear main idea at the end.
- Start an example.
- Develop the example.
- Continue developing it.
- Keep developing it and don’t switch to a new main idea.
- 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.
- Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain it.
- Begin to develop it.
- Use a specific example.
- 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.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your ideas.
- 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
- What sport do you like?
- Do you prefer team or individual sports?
- Who is your favourite sports star?
- 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?
Hi, Dave!
Could we just state our opinion without a further/ brief concession, regarding this type of essay questions as “agreement/disagreement”?
Yes, I think so – you mean just say that one is better in general and not divide into two groups?
Some governments today inject large sums of money into professional sports infrastructures for top athletics, ignoring ordinary citizens. In my opinion, though there are tangible benefits for a country’s international reputation, from an economic perspective, it is a negative overall.
The proponents of such investment programs can easily point out the importance of the international reputation gained by professional sports facilities. This can be clearly seen in the Olympic Games, attracting millions of visitors to a country, gathering sports fans from all over the world. Not only the governments but also the average citizens welcome upgrading stadiums and other sports amenities, while they know its significant cost is borne by taxpayers. China, as an example, hosting the Olympic Games in 2008, directed its largesse into constructing new specialized sports infrastructure and brought national pride for its citizens. This is no mean achievement for a country to be recognized and appreciated by the entire globe.
Nonetheless, from an economist’s perspective, such investments can be risky. Every day more than the day before, we hear more about sports scandals. People still remember the huge sums spent on financing the US Open famous player, Thomas Woods, and his extramarital affair which caused him an early retirement and the entire nation’s disappointment. This multi-billion funding, however, did not result in national pride, as expected. On the other hand, funding the sports infrastructure for ordinary citizens will promote health and mobility in society and the financial outcome is more tangible in the long-term.
In conclusion, investment in professional sports amenities acquires international reputation and national pride, but it is not immune from economic shocks. It is advisable for the states to direct their budgeting toward average citizen’s sports infrastructure to cut the financial risks.
Really well written, Hooshmand, especially your opinion!
Love your examples – keep writing specific ones like those!
Thank you Dave for considering my essay.
Did I have to write more about the advantages of average citizens’ funding?
No, I think you presented a well-rounded, clear argument.
That’s awesome
Thanks a lot!
Hi Dave,
I have recently been obsessed with a question about positive OR negative essays. Don’t they mean we need to lean towards either the positive or negative side of the argument?
I suppose there should be another similar type: “discuss the positive and negative developments” in which case one main body is dedicated to pos. side and the other to the negative side. Is this a logical conclusion?
Thank you for your consideration
No, you just have to have an overall opinion.
Really the fixation on essay types is too extreme. Most essays, just write about both sides and have an opinion – simple!
Does that answer your question, Hooshmand?
sure yes, thank you again