Episode 48 オリンピックの商業主義

コロナに罹って喉をやられて以降、やる気を失くしていたPodcastを再開しました。このPodcastですが、Episodeは50話までとし、以降はKindleで教材化したいと思います。

50話に到達したら、これまでの配信は見れなくなるため、無料で勉強できる今のうちにノートにとって勉強しといてください。← 商業主義なヤツ（笑）

Introduction:
Hello everyone, it’s been a while and welcome to my English learning podcast. Aren’t you becoming sleep-deprived because of the Olympics in Paris? Today, we’ll discuss whether the Olympics have been too commercialised.

Small Discussion Question 1:
Is the Olympics commercialised?

Sample answer 1:
"Well, I think the Olympics is becoming highly commercialised. The intense competition for hosting rights, the involvement of professional athletes, and the corruption associated with securing sponsorships all contribute to this trend. I’d say the focus has shifted from the spirit of amateur sports to commercial interests."

Small Discussion Question 2:
"What’s the downside of commercialism?

Sample Answer for Question 2:
The downside of commercialism in the Olympics is, obviously, the loss of its original ideology. If the trend continues where the Games are driven more by commercial interests than by the original philosophy of promoting peace, they could become less popular. We see a similar situation with companies that prioritise profits over their core values, Obviously, they often face scandals. And they end up losing reputation and popularity.

Now we will move on to the vocabulary section.
 
Let's start with the word 'commercialise（商業化する）.' To commercialise means to adapt something for commercial use.  For example, “The company plans to commercialise its new technology by launching it in the consumer market.”
 
Our next term is 'commercial interests（商業によってもたらされる利益）.' This phrase refers to the benefits or profits gained through business activities or commercial ventures. For instance, “The decision to expand internationally was influenced by the company's commercial interests.”
 
Moving on, we have the word 'ideology（イデオロギー・主義）.' Ideology refers to a set of beliefs, values, or principles that guide the way individuals or groups think and act. For example, “The organisation's policies are strongly influenced by its environmental ideology”
 
The phrase 'X is driven by something（Xは～によって主導される）.' means that X is motivated or influenced by a particular factor or force. For example, “The company's innovation strategy is driven by the need to stay ahead of competitors.”
 
Lastly, we have the phrase 'prioritise X over Y（YよりもXを優先させる）.' This means to give more importance or preference to X rather than Y. For example, “My wife chose to prioritise her travel plan with her friends over our honeymoon.”

Conclusion:
Maintaining a balance between commercial interests and the core values of the Games is crucial to make the Olympics a more beloved and enduring event. Which sports are you into? Thanks for joining me today, Take care!

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