A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- 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 Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
- 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.
Ask: (1) Do you like watching sports on TV? (2) What is your favorite season? Why?
VOCAB LIST
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
Warm-up ā Read & Listen ā Check Understanding ā Language ā Use It
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.
Ask: (1) Do you like watching sports on TV? (2) What is your favorite season? Why?
-
Olympics (n.)
-
Athlete (n.)
-
Famous (adj.)
-
Trick (n.)
-
Mountain (n.)
-
Snowboarding (n.)
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.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
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.
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 in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 The opening show was at the San Siro.
- 2 Athletes from many countries walked in.
- 3 Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (3):
- Athletes from many countries walked in.
- The opening show was at the San Siro.
- Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
- The opening show was at the San Siro.
- Athletes from many countries walked in.
- Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
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
1) Reason 2) Contrast
Q: Do you like the Olympics? Why or why not?
A:Q: What winter sport do you like? Why?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Do you like the Olympics? Why or why not?
A: I like watching the Olympics the sports are exciting.
because / so / but
I like watching the Olympics because the sports are exciting.
Q: What winter sport do you like? Why?
A: Skimo looks very hard I want to try it.
and / but / because
Skimo looks very hard but I want to try it.
Discussion Questions
- Do you like the Olympics? Why or why not?
- What winter sport do you like? Why?
- Do you like cold weather? Why or why not?
- Do you want to visit Italy? What do you want to see?
- Do you know any famous athletes? Who are they?
- Who is your favorite singer? What songs do they sing?
Discussion Questions
- Do you like the Olympics? Why or why not?
- What winter sport do you like? Why?
- Do you like cold weather? Why or why not?
- Do you want to visit Italy? What do you want to see?
- Do you know any famous athletes? Who are they?
- Who is your favorite singer? What songs do they sing?
Answers
Think Ahead: a
Listening: (1) cities, (2) countries, (3) mountain, (4) fast
True or False:
- True. The article says the 2026 Winter Olympics started in Italy.
- False. The San Siro is a big place for sports in Milan.
- False. Andrea Bocelli is a famous singer from Italy, not America.
- True. The article says the Games have a new sport called skimo.
- False. Athletes go up on skis, walk up, and then ski down.
Put Events in Order:
- The opening show was at the San Siro.
- Athletes from many countries walked in.
- Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey sang.
Vocabulary:
- Olympics: A big sports event for many countries.
- Athlete: A person who plays sports.
- Famous: Known by many people.
- Trick: A special move that is hard to do.
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast.
- because
- but