Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Security Concerns Cloud 2004 Olympic Games Preparations, 8/09/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/olympics_8-09.html

Initiating Questions:

1. Do you watch the Olympics every two years?
2. Which sports do Americans pay the most attention to? Why do you think that is?
3. Can athletic competition build bridges between countries? Why or Why not?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. When were the first Olympics? How were they different than today's games?

The first Olympics were in 776 B.C. The original Olympics were not just about sports; it was a men-only religious festival in honor of Zeus, king of the gods held every fourth summer, in Olympia, Greece. Unlike today's Olympics where athletes show off top-of-the-line apparel from Nike to Speedo, the original Olympians competed naked. And while there are now 37 sports ranging from Judo to table tennis, the early Olympic Games consisted of only a sprint competition. The short race was soon expanded to include long runs, pentathlon, boxing, chariot racing, pankration (extreme wrestling where there were virtually no rules), and armor foot racing.

2. What are the criteria for an Olympic sport?

An Olympic sport must be "widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents."

3. Why do cities compete to host the Olympics?

Dick Yarbrough, communications director for the group that hosted the 1996 Games in Atlanta, argues that the event is a big boon to a city's business, tourism and infrastructure, with effects that last for years. However, he believes it works better in some cities than others.

4. What problems is Greece having with this year's Games?

So far the games have cost an estimated total of $8.4 billion -- 52 percent more than what was initially planned.
Ticket sales are down in comparison to other Games, with less than half sold just a few days before the opening ceremony.

5. What happened at the 1972 Games in Germany?

At the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany, Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage, demanding the release of prisoners in Israeli jails. A failed rescue attempt ended with the deaths of 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman.

6. What is Greece doing to keep athletes and spectators safe?

This year, more than 5 times the amount has been spent on security than in the 2000 Sydney Olympics; however, system failures and delays persist and have reportedly prevented the proper training of personnel. With more than 70,000 soldiers and police officers assigned, Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis believes that there is not need for concern and that everyone will be as safe as "humanly possible."

7. What will Michael Phelps try to do at this year's Games?

The U.S. team hopes he can make Olympic history by beating Mark Spitz's 32-year-old record of seven gold medals set in Munich, Germany in 1972.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you think the Olympics Games are an important tradition? Why or Why not?

2. If you were the mayor of a large city, would you want to host the Olympics? Explain.

3. The Games have only been canceled three times in their history: 1916, 1940 and 1944. Why? Research one of those time periods, the decision to cancel the games and the symbolism behind it.

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.