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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 1 / A1
Published
Title
Winter Olympics Start in Italy
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-02-07-winter-olympics-start-in-italy/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this Olympics story?

a) Athletes enter during an opening ceremony.

b) A famous singer becomes an Olympic judge.

c) The Games are delayed because of warm weather.

The opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Milan. The Olympic rings are above the athletes.
The opening show at the Olympics in Milan.

Ask: (1) Do you like watching sports on TV? (2) What is your favorite season? Why?

VOCAB LIST

Olympics (n.) ā€” A big sports event for many countries.
Trick (n.) ā€” A special move that is hard to do.
Athlete (n.) ā€” A person who plays sports.
Mountain (n.) ā€” A very high hill.
Famous (adj.) ā€” Known by many people.
Snowboarding (n.) ā€” A sport of riding a board on snow.

Reading

The 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy. Milan and Cortina are two cities in Italy. The Games are there.

The opening show was very big. It was at the San Siro. The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan. Athletes (sports people) from many countries walked in. People were very happy. Andrea Bocelli sang a famous Italian song. He is a famous singer from Italy. Mariah Carey sang, too. She is an American singer.

The Games have a new sport. It is called skimo. Athletes go up a mountain on skis. Then they take off the skis and walk up. Then they ski down the mountain. It is very fast and hard.

Many people like snowboarding. It is a big sport at the Winter Olympics. The snowboarders go very fast. They do big tricks in the air. Fans want to see it.

Winter Olympics Start in Italy

Level 1 Source: bbc.com

Warm-up ā†’ Read & Listen ā†’ Check Understanding ā†’ Language ā†’ Use It

The opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Milan. The Olympic rings are above the athletes.
The opening show at the Olympics in Milan.

The 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy. Milan and Cortina are two cities in Italy. The Games are there.

The opening show was very big. It was at the San Siro. The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan. Athletes (sports people) from many countries walked in. People were very happy. Andrea Bocelli sang a famous Italian song. He is a famous singer from Italy. Mariah Carey sang, too. She is an American singer.

The Games have a new sport. It is called skimo. Athletes go up a mountain on skis. Then they take off the skis and walk up. Then they ski down the mountain. It is very fast and hard.

Many people like snowboarding. It is a big sport at the Winter Olympics. The snowboarders go very fast. They do big tricks in the air. Fans want to see it.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:40  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

The 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy. Milan and Cortina are two (1) in Italy. The Games are there.

The opening show was very big. It was at the San Siro. The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan. Athletes (sports people) from many (2) walked in. People were very happy. Andrea Bocelli sang a famous Italian song. He is a famous singer from Italy. Mariah Carey sang, too. She is an American singer.

The Games have a new sport. It is called skimo. Athletes go up a (3) on skis. Then they take off the skis and walk up. Then they ski down the mountain. It is very fast and hard.

Many people like snowboarding. It is a big sport at the Winter Olympics. The snowboarders go very (4) . They do big tricks in the air. Fans want to see it.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy.
    The article says the 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy.
  • The opening show was at a small place.
    The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan.
  • Andrea Bocelli is an American singer.
    Andrea Bocelli is a famous singer from Italy, not America.
  • Skimo is a new sport at the Games.
    The article says the Games have a new sport called skimo.
  • In skimo, athletes only ski down the mountain.
    Athletes go up on skis, walk up, and then ski down.

True or False

1. The 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy. TRUEFALSE True

2. The opening show was at a small place. TRUEFALSE False

3. Andrea Bocelli is an American singer. TRUEFALSE False

4. Skimo is a new sport at the Games. TRUEFALSE True

5. In skimo, athletes only ski down the mountain. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (3):

  • Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
  • Athletes from many countries walked in.
  1. The opening show was at the San Siro.
  2. Athletes from many countries walked in.
  3. Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Olympicsd) A big sports event for many countries.

2. Athletec) A person who plays sports.

3. Famousb) Known by many people.

4. Tricka) A special move that is hard to do.

a) A special move that is hard to do.

b) Known by many people.

c) A person who plays sports.

d) A big sports event for many countries.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. I like watching the Olympics the sports are exciting.

    because / so / but

    I like watching the Olympics because the sports are exciting.

  2. Skimo looks very hard I want to try it.

    and / but / because

    Skimo looks very hard but I want to try it.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you like the Olympics? Why or why not?
  2. What winter sport do you like? Why?
  3. Do you like cold weather? Why or why not?
  4. Do you want to visit Italy? What do you want to see?
  5. Do you know any famous athletes? Who are they?
  6. Who is your favorite singer? What songs do they sing?

Answers Winter Olympics Start in Italy / Level 1

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) cities, (2) countries, (3) mountain, (4) fast

True or False:

  1. True. The article says the 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy.
  2. False. The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan.
  3. False. Andrea Bocelli is a famous singer from Italy, not America.
  4. True. The article says the Games have a new sport called skimo.
  5. False. Athletes go up on skis, walk up, and then ski down.

Put Events in Order:

  1. The opening show was at the San Siro.
  2. Athletes from many countries walked in.
  3. Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.

Vocabulary:

  1. Olympics: A big sports event for many countries.
  2. Athlete: A person who plays sports.
  1. Famous: Known by many people.
  2. Trick: A special move that is hard to do.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast.

  1. because
  2. but

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