APIEIELTS Speaking: Mega Sporting Events
Mega sporting events and host cities
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Mega Sporting Events and Host Cities
IELTS Speaking Preparation • 30 minutes • 3 modules
📋 How to use this lesson
For teachers:
Guide learners through Module 1 in ten minutes, then let them record their speaking answers on their own.
Check the AI scores and play through the model answers together to highlight strong phrases.
For learners:
Do the vocabulary check, matching task, and fun facts first before you attempt to speak.
Record your own voice for each question, and only open the hidden model answer after you finish.
Module 1: Build-up
Review key topic words, practice high-scoring pairings, and check two real facts.
Vocabulary Check 1
Every working citizen is a ________ whose money pays for roads and stadiums.
Vocabulary Check 2
When spending exceeds income, the city runs a huge budget ________.
Vocabulary Check 3
The mayor hopes the new rail network will be the tournament's greatest permanent ________.
Vocabulary Check 4
Road closures caused massive traffic ________ for local residents throughout July.
Vocabulary Check 5
Three neighbouring countries decided to prepare a joint ________ to organise the championship.
Matching: Useful Collocations
Match each word combination to its correct meaning below. Each phrase has exactly one match.
Natural Sentence Patterns
Study how these everyday conversational phrases are built. Try borrowing them when you record later.
"I am really looking forward to ..."
Example:
"I am really looking forward to seeing the new sports park open next month."
"We had to put up with ..."
Example:
"We had to put up with loud building noise outside our flat for months."
"It turned out to be ..."
Example:
"It turned out to be much more crowded than any of us expected."
"From what I have seen, ..."
Example:
"From what I have seen, local shops usually get a lot of extra customers."
Guess the Number: Cost Overrun
Researchers at the University of Oxford found that Olympic Games from 1960 to 2016 cost on average how much more than planned, after inflation?
Source: University of Oxford 2016
Guess the Number: Paris 2024 Bill
According to the French audit office, how much did the Paris 2024 Games cost public bodies?
Source: Cour des comptes 2025
Module 2: Part 2 Long Turn
Prepare notes for one minute, then record your complete talk for up to two minutes.
Describe a time when a big event, such as a match or a festival, took place in your town or city.
You should say:
- what the event was
- how the town changed for it
- what you did that day
- and explain how you felt about it.
Your Recording
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Well, to be honest, the first thing that comes to mind is a big street carnival our town held last summer. Usually, our area is fairly sleepy, but the whole high street was shut to cars and decorated with colourful flags. Shop owners set up small stalls outside, and there was loud music playing on every corner. We had to put up with quite a lot of noise and crowded pavements, but the atmosphere was incredible. On the day itself, I walked down with my brother in the afternoon. We grabbed some grilled chicken from a food stall, watched some local musicians perform, and just enjoyed it. It turned out to be much more enjoyable than I had expected. Even though the litter afterwards was a bit of a pain, it gave everyone a real sense of pride, and I was genuinely glad our community came together like that.
Useful phrases in this answer:
- • had to put up with: accepted an unpleasant or noisy situation without complaining.
- • turned out to be: happened in a certain way in the end.
- • sense of pride: a warm feeling of shared satisfaction about your area.
Module 3: Part 3 Discussion
Answer these four discussion questions in depth with your own opinions and reasons.
Why do cities want to host big international events?
Record your spoken response below.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Well, I think the main reason is global attention. When a city hosts an event, millions of people watch on television, which can give a massive boost to tourism. Leaders also use the occasion to upgrade transport links and build sports facilities that can leave a lasting legacy for residents. From what I have seen, it also creates jobs in local cafes and hotels, so politicians often believe the financial risk will pay off in the long run.
• leave a lasting legacy: create benefits that continue for years into the future.
• from what I have seen: sharing a personal view based on what you have noticed.
• pay off in the long run: produce good results after some time.
Should a city use public money to build a stadium that will be used only a few times?
Record your spoken response below.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Personally, I don't think so. It seems unfair to ask the average taxpayer to fund an arena that ends up empty. Governments often face an enormous budget deficit after big competitions, and that cash would be much better spent on schools or neighbourhood clinics. Unless there is a clear guarantee that local sports clubs can actually use the pitch every week, building it is simply a waste of money.
• taxpayer: an ordinary person who pays tax to the government.
• budget deficit: losing money when costs far exceed income.
• a waste of money: spending money on something that gives you nothing useful back.
What can a city do with large venues once an event is over?
Record your spoken response below.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
Well, the smart move is to convert them into community hubs. For example, an athletic track can be opened up to school groups during the week, or the main hall can host music gigs and trade shows. You can also turn parts of the venue into small fitness centres or indoor markets. If the council does not make good use of the space, these places quickly get run down and cost a fortune to maintain.
• turn ... into: change a building or space so it has a new use.
• make good use of: use something well in a practical way.
• get run down: slowly become old and in bad condition because nobody looks after it.
Do local people usually gain or lose when their city hosts a big event?
Record your spoken response below.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
To be honest, it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, residents get better trains and a lively atmosphere, plus a real sense of excitement in the streets. But on the other hand, they frequently suffer from road closures and price hikes. Long-term construction projects cause serious disruption to daily life, and rent often jumps up. So while local shopkeepers may gain, ordinary renters sometimes lose out.
• a mixed bag: a situation with both good and bad qualities.
• construction: building work that takes months or years.
• cause serious disruption: make everyday routines difficult and chaotic.
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