IELTS Essay: Sports Sponsorships

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answers essay from the real exam on the topic of sports sponsorships and advertising.

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IELTS Essay: Sports Sponsorships

Many companies sponsor sports as a way of advertising themselves. Some people think this is good for the world of sport, while others think it is a negative.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many believe that the influence of multinational companies on sports through sponsorship deals has a harmful effect. In my opinion, while advertising creates potential conflicts of interest, this a positive situation overall as it funds the sports industry.

The growing primacy of sponsorships in sports can be problematic when it precipitates an ethical dilemma. In recent years, many Middle Eastern corporate entities linked closely to governments with poor human rights records such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have purchased and are now endorsed by major footballing leagues and teams. This raises the question of whether such leagues should accept morally bankrupt ownership. A similar example was seen in the NBA recently, which has signed various lucrative sponsorships with Chinese companies and was put in a difficult position when a league executive expressed support for the independence movement in Hong Kong. The league was forced to backtrack amid pressure of boycotts from China.

Nonetheless, advertising is a key part of the viewing experience fans have come to expect. The advertisements themselves are slightly annoying at best, but they allow leagues to make games widely available to watch and guarantees the salaries of the best players. Most games, whether it be football, basketball, tennis or another sport, can be viewed for free on major television networks or online. Advertising allows the distributors and owners to earn enough for this to be a viable option. Moreover, leagues do not operate in a vacuum. If one league banned all advertising, then players would simply switch to play somewhere else where salaries are higher. Advertising is therefore an unavoidable, crucial prerequisite to having the top players.

In conclusion, the fan benefits outweigh the pernicious impact of sponsorship deals in sport. It is regardless important for leagues to balance competing ethical, economic, and entertainment priorities.

Analysis

1. Many believe that the influence of multinational companies on sports through sponsorship deals has a harmful effect. 2. In my opinion, while advertising creates potential conflicts of interest, this a positive situation overall as it funds the sports industry.

I paraphrase the overall essay topic first.
Then I include my overall opionion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The growing primacy of sponsorships in sports can be problematic when it precipitates an ethical dilemma. 2. In recent years, many Middle Eastern corporate entities linked closely to governments with poor human rights records such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have purchased and are now endorsed by major footballing leagues and teams. 3. This raises the question of whether such leagues should accept morally bankrupt ownership. 4. A similar example was seen in the NBA recently, which has signed various lucrative sponsorships with Chinese companies and was put in a difficult position when a league executive expressed support for the independence movement in Hong Kong. 5. The league was forced to backtrack amid pressure of boycotts from China.

I first write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Next, I describe some specific examples that I know about.
I draw conclusions from those examples.
Then I switch to another related example and develop it fully.
I conclude with a more general statement.

1. Nonetheless, advertising is a key part of the viewing experience fans have come to expect. 2. The advertisements themselves are slightly annoying at best, but they allow leagues to make games widely available to watch and guarantees the salaries of the best players. 3. Most games, whether it be football, basketball, tennis or another sport, can be viewed for free on major television networks or online. 4. Advertising allows the distributors and owners to earn enough for this to be a viable option. 5. Moreover, leagues do not operate in a vacuum. 6. If one league banned all advertising, then players would simply switch to play somewhere else where salaries are higher. 7. Advertising is therefore an unavoidable, crucial prerequisite to having the top players.

Here is another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
First I qualify my main idea and then I explain it.
Then I start to focus on more specific sports.
I explain how sponsorships help earn money specifically.
Notice how I vary the long and short sentences.
Next, I state the possible results of banning ads.
Finally, I summarise my thoughts with a general statement.

1. In conclusion, the fan benefits outweigh the pernicious impact of sponsorship deals in sport. 2. It is regardless important for leagues to balance competing ethical, economic, and entertainment priorities.

I repeat my opinion and summarise my main ideas briefly.
Then I add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many believe that the influence of multinational companies on sports through sponsorship deals has a harmful effect. In my opinion, while advertising creates potential conflicts of interest, this a positive situation overall as it funds the sports industry.

The growing primacy of sponsorships in sports can be problematic when it precipitates an ethical dilemma. In recent years, many Middle Eastern corporate entities linked closely to governments with poor human rights records such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have purchased and are now endorsed by major footballing leagues and teams. This raises the question of whether such leagues should accept morally bankrupt ownership. A similar example was seen in the NBA recently, which has signed various lucrative sponsorships with Chinese companies and was put in a difficult position when a league executive expressed support for the independence movement in Hong Kong. The league was forced to backtrack amid pressure of boycotts from China.

Nonetheless, advertising is a key part of the viewing experience fans have come to expect. The advertisements themselves are slightly annoying at best, but they allow leagues to make games widely available to watch and guarantees the salaries of the best players. Most games, whether it be football, basketball, tennis or another sport, can be viewed for free on major television networks or online. Advertising allows the distributors and owners to earn enough for this to be a viable option. Moreover, leagues do not operate in a vacuum. If one league banned all advertising, then players would simply switch to play somewhere else where salaries are higher. Advertising is therefore an unavoidable, crucial prerequisite to having the top players.

In conclusion, the fan benefits outweigh the pernicious impact of sponsorship deals in sport. It is regardless important for leagues to balance competing ethical, economic, and entertainment priorities.

What do the words in bold below mean?

Answers

influence effect

multinational companies international corporations

sponsorship deals paying to use representatives from a sport or to have your logo associated with the team

harmful effect negative impact

creates potential conflicts of interest causes possible thorny ethical problems

positive situation overall good in general

funds the sports industry supports sports

growing primacy more and more important

problematic causes problems

precipitates starts/causes

ethical dilemma moral choice

corporate entities companies

linked closely connected deeply

poor human rights records don’t have rights for their citizens

endorsed by supported by

morally bankrupt ownership owners without ethics

signed various lucrative sponsorships contracted to work together

difficult position tough spot

league executive high up official

expressed support said he was in favour of

independence movement fighting for freedom

backtrack amid pressure take back what was said because of threats

boycotts not buying

nonetheless regardless

key part important piece

viewing experience watching the sport

come to expect now feel entitled to

slightly annoying at best a little irritating in the best case scenario

allow leagues let sporting federations

make games widely available everyone can watch them

guarantees the salaries makes it sure they can pay a lot

major television networks big TV stations

distributors those who broadcast the games

owners those who own the teams

viable option possible choice

do not operate in a vacuum are always in a context

banned not allowed

switch change to

therefore thus

unavoidable can’t be stopped

crucial prerequisite key requirement

outweigh stronger than

pernicious impact negative effect

balance competing keep in perspective conflicting

ethical moral

economic related to money

priorities interests

Pronunciation

ˈɪnflʊəns
ˌmʌltɪˈnæʃənl ˈkʌmpəniz
ˈspɒnsəʃɪp diːlz
ˈhɑːmfʊl ɪˈfɛkt
kri(ː)ˈeɪts pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkɒnflɪkts ɒv ˈɪntrɪst
ˈpɒzətɪv ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən ˈəʊvərɔːl
fʌndz ðə spɔːts ˈɪndəstri
ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈpraɪməsi
ˌprɒblɪˈmætɪk
prɪˈsɪpɪtɪts
ˈɛθɪkəl dɪˈlɛmə
ˈkɔːpərɪt ˈɛntɪtiz
lɪŋkt ˈkləʊsli
pʊə ˈhjuːmən raɪts ˈrɛkɔːdz
ɪnˈdɔːst baɪ
ˈmɒrəli ˈbæŋkrʌpt ˈəʊnəʃɪp
saɪnd ˈveərɪəs ˈluːkrətɪv ˈspɒnsəʃɪps
ˈdɪfɪkəlt pəˈzɪʃən
liːg ɪgˈzɛkjʊtɪv
ɪksˈprɛst səˈpɔːt
ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns ˈmuːvmənt
ˈbæktræk əˈmɪd ˈprɛʃə
ˈbɔɪkɒts
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
kiː pɑːt
ˈvjuːɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
kʌm tuː ɪksˈpɛkt
ˈslaɪtli əˈnɔɪɪŋ æt bɛst
əˈlaʊ liːgz
meɪk geɪmz ˈwaɪdli əˈveɪləbl
ˌgærənˈtiːz ðə ˈsæləriz
ˈmeɪʤə ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən ˈnɛtwɜːks
dɪsˈtrɪbjʊtəz
ˈəʊnəz
ˈvaɪəbl ˈɒpʃən
duː nɒt ˈɒpəreɪt ɪn ə ˈvækjʊəm
bænd
swɪʧ
ˈðeəfɔː
ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbl
ˈkruːʃəl ˌpriːˈrɛkwɪzɪt
aʊtˈweɪ
pɜːˈnɪʃəs ˈɪmpækt
ˈbæləns kəmˈpiːtɪŋ
ˈɛθɪkəl
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk
praɪˈɒrɪtiz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blank:

Many believe that the i_____________e of m________________________s on sports through s_____________________s has a h__________________t. In my opinion, while advertising c________________________________________t, this a p_____________________________l as it f_______________________y.

The g____________________y of sponsorships in sports can be p________________c when it p_________________s an e___________________a. In recent years, many Middle Eastern c___________________s l___________________y to governments with p_________________________s such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have purchased and are now e_______________y major footballing leagues and teams. This raises the question of whether such leagues should accept m____________________________p. A similar example was seen in the NBA recently, which has s________________________________________s with Chinese companies and was put in a d_______________________n when a l_______________________e e____________________________t for the i__________________________t in Hong Kong. The league was forced to b________________________e of b_________________s from China.

N__________________s, advertising is a k______________t of the v______________________e fans have c__________________t. The advertisements themselves are s____________________________t, but they a_________________s to m______________________________e to watch and g_________________________s of the best players. Most games, whether it be football, basketball, tennis or another sport, can be viewed for free on m_____________________________s or online. Advertising allows the d_______________s and o____________s to earn enough for this to be a v______________n. Moreover, leagues d___________________________m. If one league b___________d all advertising, then players would simply s___________h to play somewhere else where salaries are higher. Advertising is t_____________e an u________________e, c________________________e to having the top players.

In conclusion, the fan benefits o____________h the p______________________t of sponsorship deals in sport. It is regardless important for leagues to b____________________g e__________l, e_______________c, and entertainment p_________________s.