【正文】 bout the Olympic Games a long time ago. I’ve e to your time to find out about the presentday Olympic Games because I know that in 2004 they were held in my homeland. May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympics?L: Good heavens! Have you really e from so long ago? But of course you can ask any questions you like. What would you like to know?P: How often do you hold your Games?L: Every four years. There are two main sets of Gamesthe Winter and Summer Olympics, and both are held every four years on a regular basis. The Winter Olympics are usually held two years before the Summer Games. Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event will be admitted as petitors. They may e from anywhere in the world. P: Winter Games? How can the runners enjoy peting in winter? And what about the horses?L: Oh no! There are no running races or horse riding events. Instead there are petitions like skiing and ice skating which need snow and ice. That’s why they’re called the Winter Olympics. It’s in the Summer Olympics that you have the running races, together with swimming, sailing and all the team sports. P: I see. Earlier you said that athletes are invited from all over the world. Do you mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to pete against each other just for the honour of winning. No other countries could join in, nor could slaves or women!L: Nowadays any country can take part if their athletes are good enough. There are over 250 sports and each on has its own standard. Women are not only allowed, but play a very important role in gymnastics, athletics, team sports and …P: Please wait a minute! All those events, all those countries and even women taking part! Where are all the athletes housed?L: For each Olympics, a special village is built for them to live in, a main reception building, several stadiums for petitions, and a gymnasium as well. P: That sounds very expensive. Does anyone want to host the Olympic Games?L: As a matter of fact, every country wants the opportunity. It’s a great responsibility but also a great honour to be chosen. There’s as much petition among countries to host the Olympics as to win Olympic medals. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China. Did you know that?P: Oh yes! You must be very proud. L: Certainly. And after that the 2012 Olympics will be held in London. They have already started planning for it. A new village for the athletes and all the stadiums will be built to the east of London. New medals will be designed of course and …P: Did you say medals? So even the olive wreath has been replaced! Oh dear! Do you pete for prize money too?L: No, we don’t. it’s still all about being able to run faster, jump higher and throw further. That’s the motto of the Olympics, you know“Swifter, Higher and Stronger.”P: Well, that’s good news. How interesting! Thank you so much for your time.THE STORY OF ATLANTA In September 1941, the Nazi army was near St Petersburg. This was a time when the two countries were at war. Before the Nazis could get to the summer palace, the Russians were able to remove some furniture and small art objects from the Amber Room. However, some of the Nazis secretly stole the room itself. In less than two days 100,000 pieces were put inside twentyseven wooden boxes. There is no doubt that the boxes were then put on a train for Konigsberg, which was at that time a German city on the Baltic Sea. After that, what happened to the Amber Room remains a mystery.Later, Catherine II had the Amber Room moved to a palace outside St Petersburg where she spent her summers. She told her artists to add more details to it. In 1770 the room was pleted the way she wanted. Almost six hundred candles lit the room, and its mirrors and pictures shone like gold. Sadly, although the Amber Room was conside