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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or countries should invest in hosting the Olympic games from the real IELTS exam.
I wrote about a very similar topic a few years back – the same questions can come up again and again on IELTS!
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Dave
IELTS Essay: The Olympic Games
Some believe that the Olympic games help bring people from different nations together, while others claim that holding the Olympics wastes money which could be used for important issues.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
There are many who claim hosting the Olympics unproductively diverts money from more essential areas. In my opinion, despite these valid objections, there is still great value in the unifying impact of the Olympics.
Critics argue there are urgent needs that should be prioritised over a sporting event. This applies to every nation but particularly developing ones. For example, the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 led to mass unrest and protests as locals felt too much money was being spent on the event and not enough on helping to alleviate worsening conditions among underprivileged segments of society. The government could have instead improved the infrastructure used by millions daily, invested more in education, or built more hospitals. These allocations of the federal budget would not only serve an immediate purpose but also have a longer lasting effect than the Olympics.
Nonetheless, most Olympic games are sponsored by developed nations and they occur very rarely which justifies their efforts to unify. The countries competing in the Olympics often have fraught international relationships and competition can counter-intuitively decrease tensions. Supporters may root against other countries at specific instances, such as when watching a football match, but they are united in their love of sports and the shared viewing experience. This has the subtle but powerful unconscious result of fostering greater empathy between diverse ethnic and national groups. When an individual roots for their country and their athletes, and sees other individuals partaking in the same ritual, they will realise that association within a larger tribe is an essential, common human trait.
In conclusion, despite the seemingly inefficient allocation of funds, the Olympics are a mass, cooperative effort that has tremendous value. Therefore, countries should consider hosting the games a great honor.
Analysis
1. There are many who claim hosting the Olympics unproductively diverts money from more essential areas. 2. In my opinion, despite these valid objections, there is still great value in the unifying impact of the Olympics.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Critics argue there are urgent needs that should be prioritised over a sporting event. 2. This applies to every nation but particularly developing ones. 3. For example, the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 led to mass unrest and protests as locals felt too much money was being spent on the event and not enough on helping to alleviate worsening conditions among underprivileged segments of society. 4. The government could have instead improved the infrastructure used by millions daily, invested more in education, or built more hospitals. 5. These allocations of the federal budget would not only serve an immediate purpose but also have a longer lasting effect than the Olympics.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Continue to develop it.
- State the result.
- Develop it fully.
1. Nonetheless, most Olympic games are sponsored by developed nations and they occur very rarely which justifies their efforts to unify. 2. The countries competing in the Olympics often have fraught international relationships and competition can counter-intuitively decrease tensions. 3. Supporters may root against other countries at specific instances, such as when watching a football match, but they are united in their love of sports and the shared viewing experience. 4. This has the subtle but powerful unconscious result of fostering greater empathy between diverse ethnic and national groups. 5. When an individual roots for their country and their athletes, and sees other individuals partaking in the same ritual, they will realise that association within a larger tribe is an essential, common human trait.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Develop the example fully by stating the result.
1. In conclusion, despite the seemingly inefficient allocation of funds, the Olympics are a mass, cooperative effort that has tremendous value. 2. Therefore, countries should consider hosting the games a great honor.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
There are many who claim hosting the Olympics unproductively diverts money from more essential areas. In my opinion, despite these valid objections, there is still great value in the unifying impact of the Olympics.
Critics argue there are urgent needs that should be prioritised over a sporting event. This applies to every nation but particularly developing ones. For example, the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 led to mass unrest and protests as locals felt too much money was being spent on the event and not enough on helping to alleviate worsening conditions among underprivileged segments of society. The government could have instead improved the infrastructure used by millions daily, invested more in education, or built more hospitals. These allocations of the federal budget would not only serve an immediate purpose but also have a longer lasting effect than the Olympics.
Nonetheless, most Olympic games are sponsored by developed nations and they occur very rarely which justifies their efforts to unify. The countries competing in the Olympics often have fraught international relationships and competition can counter-intuitively decrease tensions. Supporters may root against other countries at specific instances, such as when watching a football match, but they are united in their love of sports and the shared viewing experience. This has the subtle but powerful unconscious result of fostering greater empathy between diverse ethnic and national groups. When an individual roots for their country and their athletes, and sees other individuals partaking in the same ritual, they will realise that association within a larger tribe is an essential, common human trait.
In conclusion, despite the seemingly inefficient allocation of funds, the Olympics are a mass, cooperative effort that has tremendous value. Therefore, countries should consider hosting the games a great honor.
Answers
claim argue
hosting the Olympics being in charge of the games
unproductively diverts uselessly takes away
more essential areas more important parts
despite regardless of
valid objections legitimate concerns
still great value continues to be worth it
unifying impact keeps people together
critics those who are against this
urgent needs necessary now
prioritised over made more important than
sporting event Olympics, games, matches, etc.
applies is relevant to
particularly especially
mass unrest people unhappy
protests unrest
locals those who live in a country
alleviate worsening conditions make things better
underprivileged segments of society poorer parts of a country
instead improved better choice to help
infrastructure streets, roads, buildings, etc.
allocations how money is assigned
federal budget government’s money to spend
serve an immediate purpose useful now
longer lasting effect more helpful in the future
sponsored by hosted by
efforts to unify try to bring people together
fraught international relationships conflicts between countries
counter-intuitively decrease tensions against expectations help pacify
root against be against the other side
specific instances isolated moments
united brought together
shared viewing experience everyone watching at the same time
subtle less obvious
unconscious result without meaning to the effect
fostering greater empathy increasing understanding between peoples
diverse ethnic and national groups different races, nationalities
partaking taking part in
ritual ceremony
association relationship
tribe group
essential key
common human trait everyone does this
inefficient allocation not a good way to spend
mass everyone together
cooperative effort all working together
tremendous value lots of importance
consider think about
a great honor very important
Pronunciation
kleɪm
ˈhəʊstɪŋ ði əʊˈlɪmpɪks
ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪvli daɪˈvɜːts
mɔːr ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈeərɪəz
dɪsˈpaɪt
ˈvælɪd əbˈʤɛkʃənz
stɪl greɪt ˈvæljuː
ˈjuːnɪfaɪɪŋ ˈɪmpækt
ˈkrɪtɪks
ˈɜːʤənt niːdz
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzd ˈəʊvə
ˈspɔːtɪŋ ɪˈvɛnt
əˈplaɪz
pəˈtɪkjʊləli
mæs ʌnˈrɛst
ˈprəʊtɛsts
ˈləʊkəlz
əˈliːvɪeɪt ˈwɜːsnɪŋ kənˈdɪʃənz
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈsɛgmənts ɒv səˈsaɪəti
ɪnˈstɛd ɪmˈpruːvd
ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ˌæləʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)nz
ˈfɛdərəl ˈbʌʤɪt
sɜːv ən ɪˈmiːdiət ˈpɜːpəs
ˈlɒŋgə ˈlɑːstɪŋ ɪˈfɛkt
ˈspɒnsəd baɪ
ˈɛfəts tuː ˈjuːnɪfaɪ
frɔːt ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
ˈkaʊntər-ɪnˈtju(ː)ɪtɪvli ˈdiːkriːs ˈtɛnʃənz
ruːt əˈgɛnst
spɪˈsɪfɪk ˈɪnstənsɪz
jʊˈnaɪtɪd
ʃeəd ˈvjuːɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈsʌtl
ʌnˈkɒnʃəs rɪˈzʌlt
ˈfɒstərɪŋ ˈgreɪtər ˈɛmpəθi
daɪˈvɜːs ˈɛθnɪk ænd ˈnæʃənl gruːps
pɑːˈteɪkɪŋ
ˈrɪʧʊəl
əˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n
traɪb
ɪˈsɛnʃəl
ˈkɒmən ˈhjuːmən treɪt
ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt ˌæləʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
mæs
kəʊˈɒpərətɪv ˈɛfət
trɪˈmɛndəs ˈvæljuː
kənˈsɪdə
ə greɪt ˈɒnə
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
There are many who c_______m h____________________s u______________________s money from m_______________________s. In my opinion, d_________e these v_______________________s, there is s_______________________e in the u_________________t of the Olympics.
C________s argue there are u_______________s that should be p_________________r a s_________________t. This a_________s to every nation but p__________________y developing ones. For example, the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 led to m_____________t and p_________s as l________s felt too much money was being spent on the event and not enough on helping to a__________________________________s among u______________________________________y. The government could have i________________________d the i____________________e used by millions daily, invested more in education, or built more hospitals. These a______________s of the f___________________t would not only s_____________________________e but also have a l______________________________t than the Olympics.
Nonetheless, most Olympic games are s____________________y developed nations and they occur very rarely which justifies their e__________________y. The countries competing in the Olympics often have f_____________________________s and competition can c___________________________________s. Supporters may r__________________t other countries at s_____________________s, such as when watching a football match, but they are u_________d in their love of sports and the s_______________________________e. This has the s____________e but powerful u________________________t of f______________________________y between d_______________________________________s. When an individual roots for their country and their athletes, and sees other individuals p______________g in the same r__________l, they will realise that a________________n within a larger t_______e is an e_______________l, c___________________t.
In conclusion, despite the seemingly i______________________n of funds, the Olympics are a m______s, c______________________t that has t_________________________e. Therefore, countries should c___________r hosting the games a____________________r.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Sports
- Which sport do you like to play?
- Have you ever been on a sports team?
- Do you like watching sports on TV?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some people think that it is a waste of money for countries to host big sporting events like the world cup, and that the money would be better spent on other things. However, others think that hosting large sporting events has a clear, positive impact on a country.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
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A number of people argue that the Olympic games are essential to bringing the individuals of different countries together, whereas other members of society claim that organizing the Olympics is a waste of financial resources which the governments can invest in for other crucial problems. In my opinion, there are exceptions, but Olympics overall is worth spending money on it.
Resulting from remarkable shifts in sport tendencies, the circumstances in which Olympic games are a case when all people around the planet get-together seems to have become more widespread. Sufficient findings show that organizing such international competitive games not only increases people’s willingness to do a sport but also gives a chance to people to find new friends. In many countries, since the first Olympic game in 1859, the number of people who have started to run, swim and do gymnastics has been increased significantly. Another point to consider is that by participating or just visiting the Olympic games you probably can meet new people with whom you have a common topic to discuss. Therefore, organizing such international competitions is very important to society, and hardly anybody can refuse to accept that it is exceptionally challenging to underestimate this.
However, some experts who believe that the Olympic games are a waste of money could consider the aforementioned point of view debatable. Highlighting the argument, there are a lot of issues such as world poverty, global warming that should be tackled as soon as possible. Instead of investing money in them, governments spend billions of dollars on worldwide entertainment. Although the governments put these issues on the top of their agenda, they can’t underestimate social demand. Nevertheless, it is essential to weigh all the facets of every particular situation.
To sum up, the former judgment is more ci=onvenint, since this is backed up by my own opinion, for I am a social worker who understands that the Olympics has a tremendous value for society.
Hello, is my essay readable? or I should make it less complicated?
Nice job though it is a little long!
Your level of academic vocabulary is good so don’t dumb it down. Be sure that you don’t use contractions in academic writing and watch your spelling!
Many are of the belief that the Olympic games are vital in bringing different countries together. Despite this positive impact, I personally believe that the funds in Olympics could be diverted for pressing social issues.
Those who decry the claim points out the positive impact on cultural and harmonious bond between countries. When nations unify to celebrate sports, it incites social awareness and mutual understanding between different religious and racial groups. Simultaneously, the host country greatly benefit from global media coverage that is speculated by large masses from all over the world and therefore promote influx of tourism in the long-run. The economic and diplomatic relations between nations will strengthen for future investments. As a result, discrimination and stereotypical movements can be narrowed when nations come together.
Nonetheless, the benefits of the Olympics focuses on narrowed audience for short period which justifies the financial budget to be purposefully used for other national issues. Most people watch the Olympics on television or computer for leisure which, ironically, remotely focuses on the publicity of the host country. The infrastructure and sporting facilities, like the stadiums, constructed for the games become unused, increasing the burden on the financial constraints of accommodation, transport, food for the athletes. These wasted monetary budget can be responsibility delegated to education for all and eliminating poverty for the underprivileged. As a result, the low-income nations can economically benefit further when the funds are properly managed.
In brief, though the Olympics unites nations from all over the world, the extensive sums spent on the games can be wisely used for meaningful issues that can help the developing nations profitably. Government and corporations, however, should be responsible in distributing the Olympic funds in a careful manner.