Fair Games IELTS Reading: Bilingual Translation & Detailed Answer Key

The reading passage “Fair Games?” is a common academic topic in IELTS, discussing the economic and social downsides of hosting the Olympic Games. This article from the ECE language center provides a detailed translation, a list of “high-scoring” vocabulary, and an in-depth explanation of every question to help you boost your Reading skills.

Reading Passage & Translation

For seventeen days every four years the world is briefly arrested by the captivating, dizzying spectacle of athleticism, ambition, pride and celebration on display at the Summer Olympic Games. After the last weary spectators and competitors have returned home, however, host cities are often left awash in high debts and costly infrastructure maintenance. The staggering expenses involved in a successful Olympic bid are often assumed to be easily mitigated by tourist revenues and an increase in local employment, but more often than not host cities are short-changed and their taxpayers for generations to come are left settling the debt.

Translation: For seventeen days every four years, the world is captivated by the dizzying spectacle of athleticism, ambition, pride, and celebration on display at the Summer Olympic Games. However, after the last weary spectators and competitors have returned home, host cities are often left awash in heavy debt and costly infrastructure maintenance. The staggering expenses involved in a successful Olympic bid are often assumed to be easily offset by tourism revenue and an increase in local employment, but more often than not, host cities are left short-changed, and taxpayers for generations to come are left to settle the bill.

Olympic extravagances begin with the application process. Bidding alone will set most cities back about $20 million, and while officially bidding only takes two years (for cities that make the shortlist), most cities can expect to exhaust a decade working on their bid from the moment it is initiated to the announcement of voting results from International Olympic Committee members. Aside from the financial costs of the bid alone, the process ties up real estate in prized urban locations until the outcome is known. This can cost local economies millions of dollars of lost revenue from private developers who could have made use of the land, and can also mean that particular urban quarters lose their vitality due to the vacant lots. All of this can be for nothing if a bidding city does not appease the whims of IOC members – private connections and opinions on government conduct often hold sway (Chicago’s 2012 bid is thought to have been undercut by tensions over U.S. foreign policy).

Translation: Olympic extravagance begins with the application process. Bidding alone sets most cities back about $20 million, and while the official bidding process only takes two years (for cities that make the shortlist), most cities can expect to spend a decade working on their bid from the moment it is initiated until the announcement of voting results from International Olympic Committee (IOC) members. Beyond the financial costs, the process “ties up” real estate in prime locations until the outcome is known. This can cost local economies millions of dollars in lost revenue from private developers who could have utilized the land, and can cause urban areas to lose their vitality due to vacant lots. All this effort can be for nothing if a city fails to appease the whims of IOC members—where personal connections and opinions on government conduct often hold sway (Chicago’s 2012 bid is thought to have been undermined by tensions over U.S. foreign policy).

Bidding costs do not compare, however, to the exorbitant bills that come with hosting the Olympic Games themselves. As is typical with large-scale, one-off projects, budgeting for the Olympics is a notoriously formidable task. Los Angelinos have only recently finished paying off their budget-breaking 1984 Olympics; Montreal is still in debt for its 1976 Games (to add insult to injury, Canada is the only host country to have failed to win a single gold medal during its own Olympics). The tradition of runaway expenses has persisted in recent years. London Olympics managers have admitted that their 2012 costs may increase ten times over their initial projections, leaving taxpayers 20 billion pounds in the red.

Translation: However, bidding costs pale in comparison to the exorbitant bills that come with actually hosting the Olympic Games. As is typical with large-scale, one-off projects, budgeting for the Olympics is a notoriously formidable task. Los Angelenos only recently finished paying off their budget-breaking 1984 Olympics; Montreal is still in debt from its 1976 Games (to add insult to injury, Canada is the only host country to have failed to win a single gold medal on home soil). The tradition of runaway expenses has persisted in recent years. London Olympics managers admitted that their 2012 costs could increase ten times over their initial projections, leaving taxpayers 20 billion pounds in the red.

Hosting the Olympics is often understood to be an excellent way to update a city’s sporting infrastructure. The extensive demands of Olympic sports include aquatic complexes, equestrian circuits, shooting ranges, beach volleyball courts, and, of course, an 80,000-seat athletic stadium. Yet these demands are typically only necessary to accommodate a brief influx of athletes from around the world. Despite the enthusiasm many populations initially have for the development of world-class sporting complexes in their hometowns, these complexes typically fall into disuse after the Olympic fervour has waned. Even Australia, home to one of the world’s most sportive populations, has left its taxpayers footing a $32 million-a-year bill for the maintenance of vacant facilities.

Translation: Hosting the Olympics is often seen as an excellent way to upgrade sporting infrastructure. The extensive demands of Olympic sports include aquatic complexes, equestrian circuits, shooting ranges, beach volleyball courts, and, of course, an 80,000-seat stadium. Yet, these demands are typically only necessary to accommodate a brief influx of athletes from around the world. Despite the initial enthusiasm many populations have for the development of world-class sporting complexes in their hometowns, these facilities typically fall into disuse after the Olympic fervor wanes. Even Australia, home to one of the world’s most sports-loving populations, has left its taxpayers footing a $32 million-a-year bill for the maintenance of vacant facilities.

Another major concern is that when civic infrastructure developments are undertaken in preparation for hosting the Olympics, these benefits accrue to a single metropolitan centre… In countries with an expansive land mass, this means vast swathes of the population miss out entirely. Furthermore, since the International Olympic Committee favours prosperous “global” centres… the improvement of public transport, roads and communication links tends to concentrate in places already well-equipped with world-class infrastructures. Perpetually bypassing minor cities create a cycle of disenfranchisement: these cities never get an injection of capital, they fail to become first-rate candidates, and they are constantly passed over in favour of more secure choices.

Translation: Another major concern is that when civic infrastructure developments are undertaken in preparation for hosting the Olympics, these benefits accrue to a single metropolitan center… In countries with an expansive land mass, this means vast swathes of the population miss out entirely. Furthermore, since the International Olympic Committee favors prosperous “global” centers… improvements to public transport, roads, and communication links tend to concentrate in places already well-equipped with world-class infrastructure. Perpetually bypassing minor cities creates a cycle of disenfranchisement: these cities never receive an injection of capital, they fail to become first-rate candidates, and they are constantly passed over in favor of more secure choices.

Finally, there is no guarantee that the Olympics will be a popular success. The “feel good” factor that most proponents of Olympic bids extol… can be an elusive phenomenon and one that is tied to that nation’s standing on the medal tables. This ephemeral thrill cannot compare to the years of disruptive construction projects and security fears that go into preparing for an Olympic Games, nor the decades of debt repayment that follow…

Translation: Finally, there is no guarantee that the Olympics will be a popular success. The “feel-good” factor that most proponents of Olympic bids extol… can be an elusive phenomenon, one that is tied to that nation’s standing on the medal tables. This ephemeral thrill cannot compare to the years of disruptive construction projects and security fears that go into preparing for an Olympic Games, nor the decades of debt repayment that follow…

There are feasible alternatives… One option is to designate a permanent host city… Another is to extend the duration of the Olympics… Failing that, the Olympics could simply be scrapped altogether. International competition could still be maintained through world championships in each discipline…

Translation: There are feasible alternatives… One option is to designate a permanent host city… Another is to extend the duration of the Olympics… Failing that, the Olympics could simply be scrapped altogether. International competition could still be maintained through world championships in each discipline…

Questions 14-18

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–K, below.

Write the correct letter, A–K, in boxes 14 – 18 on your answer sheet.

14 Bids to become a host city

15 Personal relationships and political tensions

16 Cost estimates for the Olympic Games

17 Purpose-built sporting venues

18 Urban developments associated with the Olympics

A often help smaller cities to develop basic infrastructure.

B tend to occur in areas where they are least needed.

C require profitable companies to be put out of business.

D are often never used again once the Games are over.

E can take up to ten years to complete.

F also satisfy needs of local citizens for first-rate sports facilities.

G is usually only successful when it is from a capital city.

H are closely related to how people feel emotionally about the Olympics.

I are known for being very inaccurate.

J often underlie the decisions of International Olympic Committee members.

K are holding back efforts to reform the Olympics.

Questions 19 – 25

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 19–25 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE                if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE               if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN     if there is no information on this

19 Residents of host cities have little use for the full range of Olympic facilities.

20 Australians have still not paid for the construction of Olympic sports facilities.

21 People far beyond the host city can expect to benefit from improved infrastructure.

22 It is difficult for small cities to win an Olympic bid.

23 When a city makes an Olympic bid, a majority of its citizens usually want it to win.

24 Whether or not people enjoy hosting the Olympics in their city depends on how athletes from their country perform in Olympic events.

25 Fewer people than normal visited Greece during the run up to the Athens Olympics.

Questions 26 and 27

Choose TWO letters, A–E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 26 and 27 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following does the author propose as alternatives to the current Olympics?

A The Olympics should be cancelled in favour of individual competitions for each sport.

B The Olympics should focus on ceremony rather than competition.

C The Olympics should be held in the same city every time.

D The Olympics should be held over a month rather than seventeen days.

E The Olympics should be made smaller by getting rid of unnecessary and unpopular sports.

Key Vocabulary Summary

• Mitigate (v): To make less severe, serious, or painful.

• Exorbitant (adj): Unreasonably high (price/cost).

• Formidable task (n): A difficult or daunting task.

• Runaway expenses (n): Uncontrolled or rapidly increasing costs.

• In the red (idiom): In debt; operating at a loss.

• Fall into disuse (phrase): To no longer be used.

• Foot the bill (idiom): To pay for something.

• Disenfranchisement (n): The state of being deprived of a right or privilege.

• Extol (v): To praise enthusiastically.

• Elusive (adj): Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

• Scrap (v): To discard or remove from service.

Answer Key and Detailed Explanations

14. Bids to become a host city…

• Answer: E (can take up to ten years to complete).

• Explanation: In paragraph 2, the text states: “most cities can expect to exhaust a decade working on their bid”.

  • Exhaust a decade = Take up to ten years.

15. Personal relationships and political tensions…

• Answer: J (often underlie the decisions of International Olympic Committee members).

• Explanation: At the end of paragraph 2: “private connections and opinions on government conduct often hold sway”. The example of Chicago being rejected due to foreign policy is provided.

  • Underlie decisions is equivalent to hold sway (exert influence/control).

16. Cost estimates for the Olympic Games…

• Answer: I (are known for being very inaccurate).

• Explanation: Paragraph 3 mentions: “budgeting for the Olympics is a notoriously formidable task” and the London example: “costs may increase ten times over their initial projections”.

  • Initial projections = Cost estimates.

  • Increase ten times proves they are very inaccurate.

17. Purpose-built sporting venues…

• Answer: D (are often never used again once the Games are over).

• Explanation: Paragraph 4 discusses stadiums: “typically fall into disuse after the Olympic fervour has waned”.

  • Fall into disuse = Never used again.

18. Urban developments associated with the Olympics…

• Answer: B (tend to occur in areas where they are least needed).

• Explanation: Paragraph 5 explains that infrastructure improvements “tends to concentrate in places already well-equipped”, while minor cities that actually need capital are ignored (bypassing minor cities).

  • This means development occurs in areas least needed (because they are already prosperous).

19. Residents of host cities have little use for the full range of Olympic facilities.

• Answer: TRUE

• Explanation: Paragraph 4: “Yet these demands are typically only necessary to accommodate a brief influx of athletes… typically fall into disuse”. These facilities are only needed for a short time, after which they are abandoned because locals do not use them.

20. Australians have still not paid for the construction of Olympic sports facilities.

• Answer: NOT GIVEN

• Explanation: Paragraph 4 states: “left its taxpayers footing a $32 million-a-year bill for the maintenance”. The text only mentions maintenance costs, not whether they have finished paying for the construction itself.

21. People far beyond the host city can expect to benefit from improved infrastructure.

• Answer: FALSE

• Explanation: Paragraph 5 states: “these benefits accrue to a single metropolitan centre… vast swathes of the population miss out entirely”. This contradicts the idea that they “benefit”.

22. It is difficult for small cities to win an Olympic bid.

• Answer: TRUE

• Explanation: Paragraph 5: “IOC favours prosperous ‘global’ centres… Perpetually bypassing minor cities”.

23. When a city makes an Olympic bid, a majority of its citizens usually want it to win.

• Answer: NOT GIVEN

• Explanation: Paragraph 6 mentions 90-100% approval rates in Paris and London. However, these are specific examples; the text does not claim that a majority of citizens in *any* city usually want to win.

24. Whether or not people enjoy hosting the Olympics in their city depends on how athletes from their country perform in Olympic events.

• Answer: TRUE

• Explanation: Paragraph 6: “The ‘feel good’ factor… is tied to that nation’s standing on the medal tables.”

25. Fewer people than normal visited Greece during the run up to the Athens Olympics.

• Answer: TRUE

• Explanation: Paragraph 6: “Greece’s preparation… deterred tourists from visiting the country due to widespread unease about congestion”.

Questions 26-27: Multiple Choice (Alternatives)

Which TWO of the following does the author propose as alternatives?

• Answer: A & C

• Explanation:

A: “The Olympics could simply be scrapped altogether… International competition could still be maintained through world championships in each discipline.” (Paragraph 8: Scrap the Olympics, replace with individual world championships).

C: “One option is to designate a permanent host city” (Paragraph 7: Designate a permanent host city).

Exclude D: The author mentions “extend the duration… festival of several months”, but option D says “over a month”, which is not accurate compared to “several months”, nor is it the primary alternative compared to the permanent host city proposal.

Conquering the “Fair Games?” passage not only helps you get familiar with sharp argumentative writing on socio-economic issues but is also a great opportunity to practice critical thinking through difficult question types like Matching Sentence Endings.

Hopefully, the translation and detailed explanation above have helped you resolve any difficulties in your practice. Be sure to note down the valuable vocabulary (such as exorbitant, mitigate, formidable task) to apply flexibly in both your Writing and Speaking skills later. Wishing you effective study sessions and success in reaching your target IELTS band score!