How Did the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Return After Covid-19? BBC News Review

TL;DR

Wimbledon returned after its 2020 cancellation by initially allowing only half the normal number of visitors, with hopes of admitting more later in the tournament. BBC News Review also explains “washout” for something ruined by rain, “make the most of it” for enjoying a difficult situation, and “net gain” for final profit. Read on for definitions, examples, and headline wordplay.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to News Review from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil and joining me for this programme is Tom. Hello Tom. Hello Neil and hello to our audience. Today's story is about the start of the world's most famous tennis tournament: Wimbledon. If you want to test yourself on any vocabulary that you hear today, there's a quiz on our website at... Read More

Key Insights

• Wimbledon was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• This year, Wimbledon allows only half the usual number of visitors initially.
• The term 'washout' describes an event ruined by heavy rain.
• The phrase 'makes the most of it' means to enjoy something despite difficulties.
• 'Net gain' refers to the final profit after expenses.
• Wimbledon aims to increase visitor numbers as the tournament progresses.
• Headline writers often use puns, like 'net gain', to convey dual meanings.
• BBC Learning English provides vocabulary exercises related to current news stories.
• "Last year, the tournament didn't happen: there was no Wimbledon because of the Covid-19 pandemic." (0:48)
• "This year, only half the normal amount of visitors are allowed to go to Wimbledon, but they hope to be able to allow more visitors later in the tournament." (0:51)
• "It's a noun and it describes something completely ruined by the rain." (2:09)
• "So, we could say that Wimbledon could be 'washed out' by the rain." (2:59)

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Wimbledon not happen in 2020?

Wimbledon did not happen in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The transcript describes this as a year with no Wimbledon.

Q: How did Wimbledon adapt when the tennis tournament returned?

Only half the normal number of visitors were initially allowed to attend Wimbledon. Organizers hoped to allow more visitors later in the tournament.

Q: What does “washout” mean?

A “washout” is something completely ruined by rain. The noun can describe an event that is cancelled because of rain.

Q: How is “wash out” used as a verb?

“Wash out” is the phrasal verb form, written as two separate words. For example, Wimbledon could be “washed out” by the rain.

Q: What does “make the most of it” mean?

“Make the most of it” means trying to enjoy something as much as possible. It is often used when circumstances have not gone as planned.

Q: Is there another way to say “make the most of it”?

The transcript gives “make the best of it” as a variation with the same meaning. It can also be used with a specific noun, as in making the best of a holiday.

Q: What does “net gain” mean?

“Net gain” means final profit. The Wimbledon headline uses it as wordplay because “net” also connects with tennis.

Q: Which vocabulary does BBC News Review teach through the Wimbledon story?

The program focuses on “washout,” “makes the most of it,” and “net gain.” It explains their meanings through Wimbledon headlines and everyday examples.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Wimbledon returns this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, initially allowing only half the usual visitor capacity. Despite potential weather disruptions, organizers hope to increase attendance as the tournament progresses. Key vocabulary discussed includes 'washout', 'makes the most of it', and 'net gain'.

• The term 'washout' is used to describe events ruined by rain, while 'makes the most of it' encourages enjoyment despite setbacks. 'Net gain' refers to final profit, often used in financial contexts. These terms are explored in relation to Wimbledon and its challenges.

• BBC Learning English provides a platform to learn vocabulary through current events like Wimbledon. The program highlights idiomatic expressions and their uses, offering quizzes and summaries to reinforce understanding of the language used in news contexts.