Last weekend, the world watched as the Olympic flame was lit, marking the start of the XXV Olympic Winter Games. Whether you are a fan of high-speed skiing or the strategy of curling, this week, at The London Eye – English Consultant, we’ll provide you with a «gold mine» of English vocabulary.
1. The Kick-off: The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony is the «curtain-raiser» of the games. Did you catch these key moments?
- The Parade of Nations: When athletes march into the stadium behind their national flag. The person carrying the flag is the flag-bearer.
- The Olympic Oath: A symbolic promise made by athletes and officials to play fair.
- Lighting the Cauldron: The final runner (torch-bearer) lights the massive cauldron, which burns until the end of the games.
2. The «Big Three» Verbs: Play, Go, or Do?
In English, we don’t just «practice» every sport. The verb changes depending on the activity!
- GO + -ing: Used for sports that involve moving from one place to another.
- Example: I want to go skiing, go skating, or go snowboarding.
- PLAY + Ball Sports/Games: Used for competitive games or those using a ball (or puck).
- Example: They play ice hockey or they play curling.
- DO + Martial Arts/Individual Exercises: Used for «static» or artistic sports.
- Example: She does figure skating (though «go» is also common here, «does» focuses on the performance/routine).
3. Equipment & Sports Vocabulary
| Sport | Equipment | Key Verb |
| Alpine Skiing | Skis, poles, goggles, helmet | To hurtle down (the slope) |
| Figure Skating | Skates, blades, leotard | To spin / To leap |
| Ice Hockey | Puck, stick, pads, skates | To shoot / To score |
| Curling | Stone, broom, sheet (of ice) | To slide / To sweep |
| Bobsleigh | Sled, track, aerodynamic suit | To steer / To push off |
4. A Chilly History: Where did it start?
While the Ancient Olympics started in Greece, the Winter edition is much younger.
Did you know? The first-ever Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Before that, figure skating and ice hockey were actually part of the Summer Games!
The games were created to showcase «sports on snow and ice» that couldn’t be played in the summer heat. Today, they have grown from 16 events in 1924 to over 100 in 2026!
5. Essential Olympic Idioms
You can use these in the office, too!
- To go for the gold: To try your absolute best to be the winner.
- The ball is in your court: (Actually from tennis, but used generally) It is your turn to make a decision.
- To clear the hurdle: To overcome an obstacle.
- On thin ice: To be in a risky or dangerous situation.
🏮 The «Chess on Ice»: A Quick Guide to Curling
If you were watching the Opening Ceremony and wondered about the sport with the brooms, that’s Curling. It’s all about strategy!
- The Stone: The heavy granite piece that players slide.
- The Sheet: The long lane of ice.
- The House: The circular target at the end of the sheet (it looks like a bullseye).
- The Button: The very center of the «house»—the goal is to get your stone closest to this point.
- Sweeping: Players use brooms to melt the ice slightly, which helps the stone travel further and straighter.
🎙️ Useful Phrases for Watching the Games
When you’re watching the coverage on the BBC or Eurosport, listen for these common phrases:
- «They’ve taken the lead!» (They are now in 1st place).
- «A personal best (PB).» (The athlete just achieved their best time ever).
- «He wiped out.» (He had a bad fall/crash).
- «It’s a photo finish!» (The race was so close they need a camera to see who won).
- «She’s on the podium.» (She won a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal).
Your Action Step for this week: If you were an Olympic athlete, which winter sport would you choose and why? Answer in the comments using the correct verb (Go, Play, or Do)!
Example: «I would go snowboarding because I love the speed of the mountains!»
Wait! Before you go… Did you know that the 2026 mascot is a pair of siblings named Tina and Milo? They are two adorable stoats (ermine).
The London Eye - English Consultant 