Many professional athletes are role models, but some act badly off the field. However, there are athletes like Didier Drogba who use their platform and money to do good through charity work, like building hospitals in his hometown. Mia Hamm started a foundation after her brother's death to help patients and give women sports opportunities. Andre Agassi founded an education organization after retiring from tennis to improve children's lives. Their efforts and those of others who help communities demonstrate that athletes committed to social good should be the role models celebrated.

1. Real Reading 2 – Unit 2 Extra Reading
Athletic Role Models
1 Many professional athletes reach high
levels in their sport. They make large
salaries and earn more from advertising
contracts. They attract attention from people
5 around the world. They are often role
models and heroes for their young fans, and
children want to be like them.
But when you hear stories about some of
their actions off the playing field, you might
10 doubt whether these athletes should be role
models. Sometimes they act badly and
attract negative attention. However, there
are many athletes who have decided to do
good work. They want to help others.
15 Didier Drogba is one athlete who wants to
have a positive effect on society. He is a
soccer player from the Ivory Coast, a
country in West Africa. He plays for
Chelsea, a soccer club in England. He
20 sometimes gets angry and argues with other
players on the soccer field. But Drogba also
does a lot of charity work. In 2007, he
started a foundation to help poor people who
cannot afford healthcare. He is also building
25 a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan,
Ivory Coast.
Another example is Mia Hamm. She has
won many awards. She is one of the best
women’s soccer players in the world. In
30 1997, Hamm’s brother died of a blood
illness. She started a foundation that has two
areas of focus. First, it helps patients and
families in situations like her brother.
Second, it gives young women more
35 opportunities in sports as they grow up.
Andre Agassi was a very successful
tennis player who is now retired. Since he quit
professional tennis, he has worked to
improve public education for children. He
40 started a foundation in 1994. He believes
that a good education helps children to
succeed in life.
In 2001, basketball stars started
Basketball Without Borders. This is a
45 summer camp for young people around the
world. It uses basketball as a way to
encourage friendship and peace among
young people. They have had camps in
Europe, Africa, Asia, and America.
50 These are just a few examples. There are
many more athletes like this. There are
athletes who take time to help homeless
people, improve health and education
around the world, or help families with sick
55 children.
Many stories in the news are about
famous athletes who act badly. But it’s
really the athletes who do good work who
stand out. The athletes who use their money
60 and fame to improve our world should be
our role models.
Circle the letter of the correct answer to complete each sentence.
1. Didier Drogba is a soccer player who ___.
a. is from Africa b. plays in Africa c. is from England
2. He does charity work ___.
a. only in England b. to educate children c. in West Africa
3. Mia Hamm ___.
a. played soccer b. had a sister who died c. had a blood illness
4. Mia Hamm’s foundation ___.
a. has more than one focus b. encourages friendship c. improves public education
5. Andre Agassi ___.
a. still plays professional b. helps poor people c. started a foundation more
tennis than fifteen years
ago
6. Basketball Without Borders ___.
a. is a summer camp
b. was started by young c. has camps only in the
people United States
Answer Key 1.a 2.c 3.a 4.a 5.c 6.a
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