Sponsors flock to women’s sports following a successful 2024 World Cup

admin 2024年4月5日

Beginner

entertainment, entertainment - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you ever heard about women’s sports before?
Do you know of any specific women’s sports teams or events?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

historic /hi-STAWR-ik/

[adjective] – important or likely to be important in history
The ancient ruins are a historic landmark, attracting tourists from around the world.

landscape /LAND-skeyp/

[noun] – the overall state or condition of a particular area, field, or industry, encompassing its characteristics, trends, developments, and dynamics
In the ever-changing landscape of technology, companies seek innovative solutions to remain ahead in the market.

connect /kuh-NEKT/

[verb] – to feel close to someone or have a good relationship with them
Despite living in different countries, Sarah and Maria always find ways to connect and maintain a strong and supportive friendship.

audience /AW-dee-uhns /

[noun] – the group of people together in one place to watch or listen to a play, movie, someone speaking, etc.
The theater welcomed diverse audiences, from children to adults, for the musical performance.

development /dih-VEL-uhp-muhnt /

[noun] – the process by which someone or something grows, changes, and becomes more advanced
Recent developments in technology have greatly improved our daily lives.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

The 2024 Paris Olympics aim for historic gender equality in athlete representation, championed by the International Olympic Committee. Inspired by the success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, this reflects the rising global popularity of women’s sports. Yet, a Sports Innovation Lab survey reveals that only 9% of media and sponsorship funds from Fortune 500 brands currently support women’s sports. Encouragingly, 83% plan to boost investments in female sports in 2024, particularly for the Olympics, signaling an increasing acknowledgment of the potential and appeal of women’s sports on the world stage.

Following the 2023 Women’s World Cup success, brands like Adidas and Nike swiftly released replica jerseys, with Nike creating a replica England goalkeeper’s jersey for Mary Earps based on fan input. In the changing sports landscape, experts, including Conrad Wiacek from GlobalData, highlight cost-effective opportunities for brands to connect with female audiences through women’s sports partnerships. Looking to the 2024 Olympics, Visa, an Olympic sponsor, dedicates the highest percentage of women athletes to their “Team Visa” program, showcasing a commitment to diversity. Athletes like Valarie Allman emphasize the importance of authentic connections between athletes and brands, hinting at promising developments in sports sponsorship for 2024.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

The 2024 Paris Olympics do not aim for historic gender equality in athlete representation.
The rising global popularity of women’s sports is not reflected in the decision to achieve gender equality at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
According to the Sports Innovation Lab survey, more than 10% of media and sponsorship funds from Fortune 500 brands currently support women’s sports.
83% of brands planning to increase investments in female sports in 2024 are not doing so for the Olympics.
Athletes like Valarie Allman believe that authentic connections between athletes and brands are not significant for promising developments in sports sponsorship in 2024.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

historic

landscape

connect

audience

development

The city’s rapid __________ is evident in its modern skyline and advanced infrastructure.
In the evolving political __________, analysts are observing shifts in voter behavior and policy priorities, impacting campaign strategies nationwide.
The TV show attracted a wide __________, from teenagers to elderly viewers, due to its universal themes.
The museum displayed artifacts that held __________ significance, offering a glimpse into the past.
Social media platforms allow people to easily connect with others, fostering virtual connections.