Read the following passage carefully and then choose the best option to fit each numbered blank (from 26 to 30). OLYMPIC GAMES When hosting the Olympic Games, a country has to take account of several considerations, among which the financial one is by far the most important. The costs (26)_______ hosting the Olympics can exceed tens of billions of dollars, and it is commonplace for budgets to double or even triple. In addition to the direct costs of hosting the Games (the opening and closing ...

Read the following passage carefully and then choose the best option to fit each numbered blank (from 26 to 30). OLYMPIC GAMES When hosting the Olympic Games, a country has to take account of several considerations, among which the financial one is by far the most important. The costs (26)_______ hosting the Olympics can exceed tens of billions of dollars, and it is commonplace for budgets to double or even triple. In addition to the direct costs of hosting the Games (the opening and closing ceremonies, athletes' village, security, etc.), cities often must build expensive new venues for lesser-known sports. Once constructed, sports venues often incur (27)_______ maintenance costs long after the Games have ended. While costs are the primary concern for a host city, there are other factors to consider. For one, an Olympic host city may receive (28)_______ revenue from ticket sales, tourist spending, corporate sponsorship, and television rights. Cities such as Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988) actually made a large profit from the Games they hosted. (29)_______ , hosting the Olympic Games confers prestige on a host city and country, which can lead to increased trade and tourism. The Olympics are also an opportunity to invest in projects (30)_______ improve the city's quality of life, such as new transportation systems.

The costs (26)_______ hosting the Olympics can exceed tens of billions of dollars, and it is commonplace for budgets to double or even triple.