The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Only 429 days to go
A
The Competitors - Belgium
Belgium became independent (in-di-pen-deh-nt) from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied (ok-yoo-pih-ed) by Germany during the first and second world wars. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically (tek-nuh-loj-i-kuhl) advanced European state and member of Nato and the EU (European Union).
Use the above text to find words meaning:
1. To be fortunate or successful, especially in terms of one's finances
2. To take possession and control of (a place), as by military invasion
3. Characteristic of present and recent time; contemporary; not antiquated
Capital: Brussels
Population: 10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)
National Holiday: July 21 (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
B
Nato is the acronym for: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Headquarters in Brussels)
The core of Nato is Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty states:
'The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.
Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense .......'
When and why was this treaty invoked for the first time in its history?
For more information about Nato visit the official website: www.nato.int
CIA World Fact Book: www.cia.gov
Flags of the World: http://flagspot.net
C
The Sports - Swimming
Swimming is one of the most popular sports at the Olympic Games. This is probably because most people can swim to some degree and we can appreciate how difficult it is to swim as fast as the athletes. Aquatic sports also include diving, synchronised swimming and water polo.
Why do you think many swimmers in recent years are wearing full-length swimsuits like their predecessors of 1896?
Are you a good swimmer? Do you enjoy swimming?
Want to know more? Contact The Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association at www.hkasa.org.hk, or Multi-sports - Hong Kong Dolphins Swimming Team at www.multi-sport.com.hk/programmes/dolphins.htm
D
Save a friend or a family member's life
If you are going swimming, you should know how to administer the Expired Air Resuscitation technique.
If you don't know, then learn the basics online at www.ambulance.net.au, and ask your Physical Education teacher for more information on where to do a course.
Visit the official Beijing Olympic Games (in English) website:
NEXT WEEK
The Sport: BADMINTON
The Competitors: BERMUDA
Answers:
A. prospered, occupied, modern; B. The treaty was invoked on September 12, 2001, in response to the previous day's attacks (9/11) on the United States