Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about sport with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many countries compete to host major international sporting events such as the Olympics or the World Cup.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Countries around the world compete to host major sporting events such as the Olympic Games or the World Cup. In my opinion, the disadvantages are greater than the advantages, particularly for countries with limited budgets.
The attractions of hosting are clear. Such events bring a wave of tourists and worldwide media attention, which can improve a country's image and boost sectors like hotels and restaurants. Hosts often use the occasion to build or modernise infrastructure, including airports, roads and public transport, and these may serve citizens for decades. Success in organising the event can also create a strong feeling of national pride and unity.
On the other hand, the costs can be enormous. Budgets are usually exceeded; the Montreal Olympics of 1976 left the city in debt for thirty years, and Rio de Janeiro's government faced financial crisis after the 2016 Games. Money that could have been used for hospitals or schools is instead spent on temporary facilities. Furthermore, many of the new stadiums are rarely used afterwards. Several venues built for the 2004 Athens Olympics lie abandoned and expensive to maintain. There are also effects on ordinary people, who experience traffic restrictions, rising prices and sometimes forced relocation from areas needed for construction.
There are exceptions. Cities which already have most of the necessary facilities, such as Los Angeles, can stage the Games with much lower costs and use the venues afterwards. A shared hosting model, in which several cities or countries divide events, could also reduce the burden.
In conclusion, although hosting a major event can bring prestige, tourism and better infrastructure, the financial risk, wasted facilities and disruption to residents mean that the disadvantages often outweigh the benefits.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| host a tournament | organise a major competition |
| infrastructure | roads, stadiums etc. |
| white elephant | useless expensive building |
| legacy | lasting result |
| public debt | money owed by government |
| boost tourism | increase visitors |
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