At the Paris Olympics, a new technology is being used to find future sports stars. This technology uses AI, or artificial intelligence, to help find young athletes with potential. Kids like Tacto and Tomo from Japan took part in tests to measure how fast and strong they are. The results help decide which sport they might be good at.

The AI system is easy to use and can work on a phone or tablet. This makes it possible to test kids in places without fancy sports facilities. The International Olympic Committee used this technology in Senegal and tested over 1,000 kids. They found many children who could be great athletes in the future.

Experts think this technology is helpful but not perfect. It might not show everything needed for sports that require many skills. Still, it gives a good idea of a child’s abilities. Kids like Tacto enjoyed the tests and learned what sports they might be good at, making it fun and exciting.

Original news source: The AI tech aiming to identify future Olympians (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different sports or activities mentioned in the article (like running, swimming, etc.) without speaking. The other groups will guess what sport it is. This will help students practice vocabulary and have fun with movement.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a whiteboard or large paper, write “Sports Technology” in the center. Ask students to brainstorm words and phrases related to the article (e.g., AI, athletes, testing, Olympics). They will add these words around the center, creating a visual map that helps them organize their thoughts and vocabulary.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a few questions related to the article, such as “Do you think technology can help find sports stars?” or “Is it good for kids to take tests to find their best sport?” Have students circulate around the room asking their classmates these questions and recording their answers. This encourages speaking practice and sharing opinions.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (like “technology,” “athletes,” “potential”) and write them on separate pieces of paper. Students will take turns drawing a word from the pile and then illustrating it on the board without using words. The rest of the class will guess the word, reinforcing vocabulary recognition.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Ask students to imagine how technology might change sports in the future. In pairs, they will discuss and write down a few predictions about new sports, training techniques, or athlete discovery methods. Afterward, they will share their ideas with the class, promoting speaking and critical thinking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the new technology being used at the Paris Olympics to find young athletes?
2. Who are Tacto and Tomo, and where are they from?
3. How does the AI technology help decide which sport kids might be good at?
4. Why is it important that the AI system can work on a phone or tablet?
5. In which country did the International Olympic Committee test this technology?
6. How many kids were tested in Senegal to find future athletes?
7. What did Tacto think about the tests they took?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

At the Paris Olympics, a new technology is being (1)______ to find future sports stars. This technology uses AI, or artificial intelligence, to help find young athletes with potential. Kids like (2)______ and Tomo from (3)______ took part in tests to measure how fast and (4)______ they are. The results help decide which sport they might be good at.

The AI system is easy to use and can work on a phone or tablet. This (5)______ it possible to (6)______ kids in places without fancy sports facilities. The International Olympic Committee used this technology in Senegal and tested over 1,000 (7)______. They found (8)______ children who could be great athletes in the future.

(9)______ think this technology is helpful but not perfect. It might not show everything (10)______ for sports that (11)______ many (12)______. Still, it gives a good idea of a child’s abilities. Kids like Tacto enjoyed the tests and learned what sports they might be good at, making it fun and exciting.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite sport?
2. How would you feel if a robot helped you find your best sport?
3. Do you like trying new sports? Why or why not?
4. What is a sport you would like to try in the future?
5. Do you think kids should use technology to find their talents? Why?
6. How would you feel if you were tested to see how good you are at sports?
7. What is a sport that you think is very difficult?
8. Do you think everyone can be a good athlete? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if you found out you are really good at a sport?
10. Do you like watching the Olympics? Why or why not?
11. What is a fun way to practice sports with friends?
12. Do you think it is important to have good sports facilities? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. technology
2. potential
3. athletes
4. facilities
5. committee
6. experts
7. abilities
8. measure
9. require
10. skills
11. exciting
12. future

Meanings:
(A) Things you can do well
(B) Tools and machines used to solve problems or do new things
(C) People who know a lot about something
(D) To find out the size or amount of something
(E) People who play sports
(F) To need something
(G) Making you feel happy and interested
(H) Things you learn to do well
(I) The time that comes after now
(J) The chance to be really good at something in the future
(K) A group of people who make decisions
(L) Buildings or places for special activities
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What technology is used to find future sports stars at the Paris Olympics?
(a) VR (virtual reality)
(b) GPS (global positioning system)
(c) AI (artificial intelligence)
(d) Wi-Fi

2. Where did kids like Tacto and Tomo come from?
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) South Korea
(d) India

3. How many kids were tested in Senegal using this technology?
(a) Over 500
(b) Over 2,000
(c) Over 100
(d) Over 1,000

4. What can the AI system work on?
(a) Computer only
(b) TV only
(c) Game console only
(d) Phone or tablet

5. What do experts think about the new technology?
(a) It is perfect for all sports
(b) It is helpful but not perfect
(c) It is not useful at all
(d) It is only for professional athletes

6. What did kids learn from the tests?
(a) What sports they might be good at
(b) How to play video games
(c) How to cook
(d) How to swim

7. What did Tacto think about the tests?
(a) He found them boring
(b) He didn’t understand them
(c) He enjoyed them
(d) He thought they were too hard

8. What is one reason this technology is good for testing kids?
(a) It can be used in places without fancy sports facilities
(b) It is very expensive
(c) It takes a long time to set up
(d) It can only be used indoors

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Experts say the technology is not helpful and not perfect for all sports.
2. Many children were found who could be great musicians in the future.
3. Tacto had fun during the tests and learned what sports he might be good at.
4. Kids from Japan, named Tacto and Tomo, took tests to see how fast and strong they are.
5. This technology uses natural intelligence, not AI.
6. The AI system can only be used on computers.
7. The International Olympic Committee tested over 1,000 kids in Senegal.
8. The Paris Olympics is using a new technology to find young sports stars.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the new technology being used at the Paris Olympics to find young athletes?
2. Who are Tacto and Tomo, and where are they from?
3. How does the AI system help test kids’ abilities?
4. Why is it good that the AI system can work on a phone or tablet?
5. What do experts think about the AI technology used to find future sports stars?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the new technology being used at the Paris Olympics to find young athletes?
The new technology is AI, or artificial intelligence.

2. Who are Tacto and Tomo, and where are they from?
Tacto and Tomo are kids from Japan.

3. How does the AI technology help decide which sport kids might be good at?
The AI technology measures how fast and strong kids are to find out which sport they might be good at.

4. Why is it important that the AI system can work on a phone or tablet?
It is important because it allows testing kids in places without fancy sports facilities.

5. In which country did the International Olympic Committee test this technology?
The International Olympic Committee tested this technology in Senegal.

6. How many kids were tested in Senegal to find future athletes?
Over 1,000 kids were tested in Senegal.

7. What did Tacto think about the tests they took?
Tacto enjoyed the tests and thought they were fun and exciting.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) used
(2) Tacto
(3) Japan
(4) strong
(5) makes
(6) test
(7) kids
(8) many
(9) Experts
(10) needed
(11) require
(12) skills
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. technology
Answer: (B) Tools and machines used to solve problems or do new things

2. potential
Answer: (J) The chance to be really good at something in the future

3. athletes
Answer: (E) People who play sports

4. facilities
Answer: (L) Buildings or places for special activities

5. committee
Answer: (K) A group of people who make decisions

6. experts
Answer: (C) People who know a lot about something

7. abilities
Answer: (A) Things you can do well

8. measure
Answer: (D) To find out the size or amount of something

9. require
Answer: (F) To need something

10. skills
Answer: (H) Things you learn to do well

11. exciting
Answer: (G) Making you feel happy and interested

12. future
Answer: (I) The time that comes after now
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What technology is used to find future sports stars at the Paris Olympics?
Answer: (c) AI (artificial intelligence)

2. Where did kids like Tacto and Tomo come from?
Answer: (b) Japan

3. How many kids were tested in Senegal using this technology?
Answer: (d) Over 1,000

4. What can the AI system work on?
Answer: (d) Phone or tablet

5. What do experts think about the new technology?
Answer: (b) It is helpful but not perfect

6. What did kids learn from the tests?
Answer: (a) What sports they might be good at

7. What did Tacto think about the tests?
Answer: (c) He enjoyed them

8. What is one reason this technology is good for testing kids?
Answer: (a) It can be used in places without fancy sports facilities
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Experts say the technology is not helpful and not perfect for all sports. (Answer: False)
2. Many children were found who could be great musicians in the future. (Answer: False)
3. Tacto had fun during the tests and learned what sports he might be good at. (Answer: True)
4. Kids from Japan, named Tacto and Tomo, took tests to see how fast and strong they are. (Answer: True)
5. This technology uses natural intelligence, not AI. (Answer: False)
6. The AI system can only be used on computers. (Answer: False)
7. The International Olympic Committee tested over 1,000 kids in Senegal. (Answer: True)
8. The Paris Olympics is using a new technology to find young sports stars. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧