Table-Tennis Teen

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 13 September 2024 > In the News

A 14-year-old from Brighton, England, has just had a dream summer. Bly Twomey went to her first Paralympics as one of the youngest members of the British team, and went home with two bronze medals, one in singles, one in doubles. Bly only started playing table tennis three years ago, at a sports camp for … Continue reading “Table-Tennis Teen”

Paris 2024 Paralympics

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 26 August 2024 > Celebrate

Here’s a quick guide to the 17th Paralympic Games in Paris. Since the first games for disabled athletes in 1948 to the first official Paralympics in Rome in 1960 to today’s games, the size and the exposure of the games has increased enormously. In Rome, 400 athletes from 23 countries participated in eight sports. Since … Continue reading “Paris 2024 Paralympics”

Paralympic Game Changers

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 26 August 2024 > Pedagogy

This sequence for a Terminale class included different types of writing, both journalistic and creative as well as pupils expressing their reactions to a documentary in writing, and making a short video. Pupils’ reactions to the Paralympic athletes they discovered was very enthusiastic and they seemed to take on board the Paralympic values of courage, … Continue reading “Paralympic Game Changers”

Let’s Dance at the Olympics

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 27 June 2024 > Celebrate

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games welcomes a new sport: breaking, or break dancing. Breaking originated in the Bronx in the 1970s. It has its roots in hip-hop culture, but has long been a competitive sport. In Paris, 16 men and 16 women (known as “B-Boys” and “B-Girls”) will engage in an epic battle for the … Continue reading “Let’s Dance at the Olympics”

“Wheel to Wheel” Short Story

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 12 December 2023 > Ready to Use

This B1-level short story was written by an American teenager. It would fit in well with a theme on the Paralympics. Activities include comprehension, written expression and practise of “used to” and comparatives and superlatives. Vocabulary and structures preterite would (past habit and conditional) past perfect used to comparatives and superlatives sports (athletics) This would … Continue reading ““Wheel to Wheel” Short Story”

A Unique Olympics

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 23 July 2021 > Celebrate

Postponed by a year because of COVID, doubtful till the last minute, and with no spectators, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have finally got underway. We look at some of the new sports at the games and particularly skateboarding. The postponed Olympic Games are taking place from 23 July till 8 August, and will be followed … Continue reading “A Unique Olympics”

Paralympics: Yes We Can

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 08 September 2016 > Webpicks

Britain’s commercial Channel 4 TV company revolutionised the televising of disability sports for the 2012 Games in London. It has continued its commitment to disability sport, proudly proclaiming on all its communication that it is the “Paralympic Broadcaster”. This from the channel that brought us Big Brother and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. For the 2016 … Continue reading “Paralympics: Yes We Can”

Paralympics Rio 2016

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 13 August 2016 > In the News

From 7-16 September, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is hosting the 2016 Paralympic Games. With each Olympiad, the games for athletes with disabilities are becoming more and more high-profile. The Paralympics began in Stoke Mandeville, England, in 1948. Dr Ludwig Guttmann was working with World War 2 veterans who had spinal injuries. He used sport as … Continue reading “Paralympics Rio 2016”