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Test Yourself: King of sports
Itsarin Tisantia
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Thailand bid its final farewell to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 26 with a royal cremation ceremony in what was the most emotional event in the country’s modern history.
STAR SAILOR
The King, who passed away last year, loved sports and was a fine sportsman himself. When he was young, he enjoyed sailing, badminton and tennis. He was Thailand’s top sailor in the 1960s. He was also a patron of several sporting events and associations, including badminton, golf, football and sailing.
Charoen Wattanasin was one of Thailand’s best ever badminton players and is former president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, which is under the King’s patronage.
“For more than 60 years, the King supported Thai badminton. Without His Majesty’s support, Thai badminton would not have been as success- ful as it is today,” he said.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
The late King was the first Thai monarch to compete in an international sporting event when he took part in the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games — now the SEA Games — in 1967. King Bhumibol and his daughter Princess Ubolratana were joint winners in the OK dinghy class of the sailing tournament, which was held in Pattaya.
The King’s achievement was even more remarkable because he’d built his own boat.
He claimed the title on December 16, which has since been celebrated as Thailand’s National Sports Day.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded him the Insignia of the Olympic Order in 1987 and presented him with the Lalounis Cup in 2001 for his role in supporting and promoting sports. In 2012, the King received the President’s Medal from the Badminton World Federation for his contribution to the sport.
THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
Before his health deteriorated, it was a tradition for the King to grant an audience to the Thai delegation before an international sporting event. The King always encouraged athletes to put the spirit of the competition first. He told them that sports were not all about winning and that they must respect the rules.
“Everybody wants to win. But there are always winners and losers in sport. Winning should not be all about winning a competition. You should also win the hearts of your opponents and the spectators,” His Majesty said on one occasion.
“The King always told athletes to behave and adhere to the rules of their sports, no matter what the decision may be,” said Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT
The King believed that international tournaments could help strengthen Thailand’s relations with other countries. He saw sport as a tool for development.
“Sports are important in the development of the country and people,” His Majesty said.
King Bhumibol sponsored several athletes, including badminton star Charoen, who won several international competitions and reached the All-England final twice. In the 1960s, Charoen, who often played badminton with the King, went to the University of Liverpool on a business management scholarship given by the monarch. Charoen said that the King told him before he left for England to also study English society so he could help to improve his country when he came back to Thailand.
In 2003, snooker player Noppadol Saengnil won a national ranking event and earned the right to participate in the 2003-2004 Challenge Tour in the UK. Unfortunately, he lacked the money to go. So the King, who had seen Noppadol play on TV, awarded the young player a grant from his personal funds to ensure that he could take part in the tour.
Because of his involvement in sports, several sporting events including in golf, boxing and football, are named the King’s Cup in honour of the monarch.
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What was notable about the late King’s victory in the sailing tournament?
a. It happened on Thailand’s National Sports Day.
b. He did it with a boat he’d made himself.
c. He got an award from the International Olympic Committee.
2. Who presented the Lalounis Cup to the King?
a. The IOC.
b. Princess Ubolratana.
c. The Badminton World Federation.
3. Thailand’s National Sports Day is ____________.
a. December 5.
b. December 16.
c. December 1967.
4. What did the King tell Thai athletes before a tournament?
a. To respect the rules.
b. That the most important thing is winning.
c. That they should make friends with their opponents.
5. How many times did Charoen win the All-England final?
a. None.
b. Twice.
c. Seven.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Noppadol Saengnil played soccer.
b. Noppadol Saengnil won a major British competition.
c. Noppadol Saengnil was able to go abroad because of the King’s assistance.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. The King received international recognition for his contributions to badminton.
b. There is a golfing event in Thailand called the King’s Cup.
c. The King was Thailand’s best sailor throughout his reign.
SECTION 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
8. monarch ……..
9. delegation ……..
10. sponsor ……..
11. spectator ……..
12. patron ……..
13. deteriorate ……..
SECTION 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
The King …..14….. a large number of Thai athletes to victories. Thai athletes often pay respect …..15….. the King after a success. The King sent a message to the Thai boxing team during the 2004 Olympics. “His message made me …..16….. stronger,” said boxer Manus Boonjumnong after …..17….. gold in Athens. He also …..18….. gold at the 2006 Asian Games …..19….. silver at the 2008 Olympics.
14.
a. inspire
b. inspiration
c. inspired
15.
a. on
b. at
c. to
16.
a. feeling
b. feel
c. felt
17.
a. winning
b. win
c. won
18.
a. takes
b. took
c. taken
19.
a. with
b. together
c. and
SECTION 4
Write down the adjective forms of the following words used in the story.
20. tradition …………………………
21. strengthen …………………………
22. management …………………………
23. competition …………………………
24. respect …………………………
Answers
Section 1
1. b.
2. a.
3. b.
4. a.
5. a.
6. c.
7. c.
Section 2
8. f.
9. a.
10. e.
11. c.
12. b.
13. d.
Section 3
14. c.
15. c.
16. b.
17. a.
18. b.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Traditional.
21. Strong.
22. Managerial/manageable.
23. Competitive.
24. Respectful/respectable.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
