2021年英语四级美文赏析：Olympic Games思维导图

Everyfouryears,thebestathletesfromcountriesaroundtheworldcometogetherinthespiritofpeaceandfriendshiptocompeteintheOlympicGames.WiththelightingoftheOlympicflamethegamesbegin—theOlympicspiritkeptalive.ThatflamehasbeenbroughtmanythousandsofmilesbyrelayrunnersallthewayfromOlympia,inWesternGreece,wheretheceremonybegan2700yearsago.

Thissimpleceremony,andthelightingofthetorch,isthesparkthatrenewstheOlympicflamewhereverthegamesareplayed.ThegamessymbolizedtheearlyGreeks’idealofman’sunity,theirvisionofpeace,andofhumanperfection.TheOlympicbeganasareligiousceremony.TheFirstGamesinrecordedhistorytookplaceintheyear776BC.ThiswasthetimeoftheWesternZhouperiodinChina.AlltheGreekcity-statesparticipated.

StatesatwarwitheachotherwouldendhostilitiesforthedurationoftheGames.TheOlympicmottoisuniversallyacceptedas“Swifter,Higher,Stronger.”OneathletefromthegameshostcountrytakesanoathattheOpeningCeremonyonbehalfofallthecompetingathletes:Inthenameofallcompetitors,IpromisethatweshalltakepartintheseOlympicgames,respectingandabidingbytheruleswhichgovernthem,inthetruespiritofsportsmanship,forthegloryofsportandthehonorofourteams.”

Inancienttimes,winnerswerecrownedwithwreathsofthesacredolive.TheirnameswereproclaimedthroughouttheGreekcity-states.Thingshavenotchangedmuchinthisregard.Today,firstplacewinnersareawardedgoldmedals,secondplacewinners,silver,andthirdplacegetsthebronze.And,asinancienttimes,Olympicstarsbecomeinternationallyfamous.LetushopethatthislivingexperienceofpeaceandfriendshipbetweenallthepeoplesoftheworldthatbeganinOlympia,inancientGreece,willcontinueformanycenturiestocome.