English Learning: Surfing and Olympic Recognition
Dialogue
Alice: Bob, guess what! I saw a clip of surfing from the Olympics last night, and it was incredible!
Bob: Alice, you mean surfing is *actually* in the Olympics now? I thought that was just a pipe dream for wave-obsessed fanatics!
Alice: It is! It made its debut in Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021, of course). I mean, can you imagine standing on that podium, board under your arm, knowing you conquered the waves *and* the world?
Bob: Sounds pretty epic. Though I always pictured Olympic athletes doing something… less reliant on Mother Nature’s mood swings. Like, what if the waves just decide to take a day off?
Alice: That’s part of the challenge, silly! It adds an element of unpredictability and skill. Plus, it’s not just about big waves; it’s about technique, style, and how you read the ocean.
Bob: So, no synchronized surfing then? No perfectly aligned duck dives? Shame. That would have been truly Olympic.
Alice: (rolls her eyes) No, Bob, no synchronized surfing. But it’s brought a whole new level of cool to the Games, don’t you think? It’s all about youth culture, pushing boundaries.
Bob: I suppose it beats watching competitive synchronized napping. Though I could probably medal in that. But seriously, it’s been a long time coming for surfers, hasn’t it?
Alice: Absolutely! Surfing has such a rich history, from ancient Polynesians to Duke Kahanamoku, who actually campaigned for it to be an Olympic sport way back in the early 20th century.
Bob: Duke Kahanamoku? The Hawaiian swimmer? Wow, so this isn’t just a recent fad. It’s like, a century-old dream finally catching a big wave.
Alice: Exactly! It’s been quite a journey. And now, seeing athletes from all over the world, not just traditional surfing nations, competing? It’s amazing for the sport’s global reach.
Bob: So, does this mean my “extreme napping” might get Olympic recognition if I lobby hard enough? Perhaps under “Mental Fortitude Sports”?
Alice: (laughs) You wish! But hey, if surfing can do it, maybe anything’s possible. Now, are you ready to trade your armchair for a surfboard? We could try a beginner’s lesson!
Bob: Whoa, slow down there, wave whisperer. One step at a time. First, I need to master standing up on *dry land* without losing my balance. Baby steps to Olympic glory!
Alice: (grinning) That’s the spirit, Bob! We’ll get you there. Or at least get you wet.
Current Situation
Surfing officially made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Games (which were postponed and held in 2021 due to the pandemic). Its inclusion was part of the International Olympic Committee’s efforts to appeal to a younger audience and embrace sports with strong youth culture and global appeal. Surfing is scored based on a combination of factors including the difficulty of maneuvers, innovation, variety, speed, power, and flow of the ride.
The sport has been confirmed for future Olympic Games, including Paris 2024 (with competitions held at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia, known for its powerful waves) and Los Angeles 2028, solidifying its place in the Olympic movement after decades of advocacy from the surfing community.
Key Phrases
- Pipe dream: An unlikely or impossible hope or plan.
- Example: Winning the lottery and buying an island is probably just a pipe dream for most people.
- Mother Nature’s mood swings: Referring to unpredictable changes in weather or natural conditions.
- Example: You can never fully plan an outdoor wedding because you’re always at the mercy of Mother Nature’s mood swings.
- A long time coming: Something that has been expected or desired for a considerable period.
- Example: After years of hard work, her promotion was definitely a long time coming.
- Catching a big wave: Metaphorical for achieving a major success or breakthrough after a long wait or effort.
- Example: The startup finally secured major funding; they’re really catching a big wave now!
- Trade your armchair for a surfboard: To exchange a comfortable, inactive lifestyle for a more active, adventurous one. (Can be adapted for other activities: “trade your couch for a bike,” etc.)
- Example: After retiring, John decided it was time to trade his armchair for hiking boots and explore the world.
Grammar Points
1. Present Perfect (Simple and Continuous)
The Present Perfect tense is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or for actions completed recently with a present result. The continuous form emphasizes the duration of the action.
- Formation (Simple): has/have + past participle
- Example from dialogue: “it’s brought a whole new level of cool to the Games” (The action of bringing started in the past and its effect is still relevant). “It’s been quite a journey.”
- Example (Simple): She has lived in this city for five years. (Still lives here)
- Formation (Continuous): has/have + been + -ing verb
- Example (Continuous): I have been studying English all morning. (Started in the morning, still studying or just finished)
2. Modal Verbs for Speculation/Possibility
Modal verbs like must, might, and could are used to express varying degrees of certainty or possibility about present or past events.
- Must (have + past participle): Used for high certainty or logical deduction about a past event.
- Example from dialogue: “It must have been incredible!” (Alice is very sure it was incredible).
- Example: He’s soaking wet. It must have been raining outside.
- Might / Could (have + past participle): Used for possibility or suggestion about past or present events. Might suggests a slightly lower possibility than could, but they are often interchangeable.
- Example from dialogue: “my “extreme napping” might get Olympic recognition” (Bob is suggesting a possibility, perhaps humorous). “We could try a beginner’s lesson!” (Alice is making a suggestion).
- Example: She might have forgotten about our appointment. (It’s possible she forgot).
Practice Exercises
Complete the sentences using the key phrases from the dialogue. You may need to change the form slightly.
- Winning the lottery is a complete __________ for most people, but it’s fun to imagine!
- The gardener blamed the sudden changes in the plants on __________.
- After years of hard work, her promotion was really __________.
- The startup finally secured major funding; they’re really __________ now!
- It’s time to __________ your video games for a walk outside.
Rewrite the following sentences using the grammar point in parentheses.
- I’m sure he was very tired after running the marathon. (Use must have been)
- They started building the bridge three years ago, and they are still building it. (Use Present Perfect Continuous)
- It’s possible she forgot about our meeting. (Use might have forgotten)
- He bought a new car last week, and he still has it. (Use Present Perfect Simple)
If you could choose any non-traditional sport (like synchronized napping or extreme ironing) to be included in the Olympics, what would it be and why? How would it make the Games more interesting?
- Exercise 1:
- pipe dream
- Mother Nature’s mood swings
- a long time coming
- catching a big wave
- trade your armchair for a surfboard
- Exercise 2:
- He must have been very tired after running the marathon.
- They have been building the bridge for three years.
- She might have forgotten about our meeting.
- He has bought a new car. (or He has had a new car since last week.)
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