Hosting the Olympic Games

The question

How to approach this discuss both views question

A discuss-both-views essay asks you to explain two opinions fairly and then give your own.

1. Introduce both views and say you will discuss them.
2. Paragraph 1: the first view with reasons and an example.
3. Paragraph 2: the second view with reasons and an example.
4. State your own opinion clearly (in the introduction or conclusion) and keep it consistent.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the spending concern and state whether you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
2. Body 1: advantages, such as new transport links, urban regeneration and national pride, with one specific example.
3. Body 2: disadvantages, such as cost overruns, debt and venues that sit unused after the Games, with a concrete case.
4. Body 3: weigh the two sides, explaining which factor decides the balance (for example, whether existing venues are used).
5. Conclusion: give a clear answer to the question and state the condition under which your view would change.

Idea bank

• Barcelona 1992: the Games prompted the redevelopment of a run-down waterfront and helped the city become a major tourist destination.
• Athens 2004: many venues were left largely unused after the Games, a frequently cited example of white elephant stadiums.
• Montreal 1976: cost overruns left the city with debts that took about three decades to clear, a warning about budgeting.
• Los Angeles 1984: organisers used existing stadiums and university facilities and reported a surplus, showing that costs can be controlled.
• Short-term boost: construction work, hotel bookings and visitor spending can help local businesses, but the gains are usually concentrated in a few years.
• Displacement: redevelopment near venues can push up rents and force long-term residents to move away.

Useful vocabulary

• to host a major event: Few cities can afford to host a major event without public funding.
• a white elephant: The stadium became a white elephant, costly to maintain and rarely used.
• cost overruns: Cost overruns are common when venues are built to tight deadlines.
• urban regeneration: The Games brought urban regeneration to a derelict waterfront.
• to leave a legacy: Planners should consider the legacy the venues will leave for residents.
• to outweigh: On balance, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term costs.
• to foot the bill: Taxpayers often end up footing the bill for unused facilities.
• global exposure: The event gives the host city global exposure and attracts visitors for years.
• to displace residents: Redevelopment can displace residents from lower-cost housing.
• to make a net loss: Once maintenance is included, some venues make a net loss for the host city.

Common mistakes

• Writing about sport in general, such as 'the Olympics bring people together', instead of focusing on the spending question.
• Listing advantages and disadvantages without weighing them, when the question asks which side is heavier.
• Relying on one example without explaining how it supports the point you are making.
• Leaving the answer unclear, for example 'it depends' with no judgement.
• Forgetting that the costs are usually met by taxpayers, which is central to whether the benefits justify the spending.

Examiner tip: Use topic sentences that name the side you are discussing, then judge which side carries more weight and explain why, using one concrete example in the conclusion.