Sports Today is Turning into a Business – IELTS Writing Task 2

According to the updated sequence for the IELTS exam, the Writing Module is the first to be conducted. As it is important to begin the exam on the right foot, it is necessary to master your writing skills by practising essay topics, like ‘Sports Today is Turning into a Business’.

The essay topic- Sports Today is Turning into a Business – is a Discussion essay and will help you acquaint yourself with the format of structuring an IELTS Discussion. If you want, have a look at the Writing Task 2 practice tests.

Since most IELTS aspirants consider IELTS Writing to be challenging and we don’t want you to feel the pressure of this task, we have provided expert-curated Band 7, 8 & 9 sample answers for you.

Let’s have a look at the discussion essay – Sports Today is Turning into a Business.

Question

Outline

Check Out – Free IELTS Online Tests 2024 | Practice IELTS Mock Test Online

Band 7 Sample Answer for Writing Task 2 Question – Sports Today is Turning into a Business

Sports are becoming a business these days, with certain companies sponsoring events with increasing prize money for the athletes as a means of marketing. Some agree that this has a positive impact on the sports industry, but others do not.

To begin with, sports sponsorship, with ever-increasing profits, offers the sports industry numerous advantages for successful growth. Athletes who win significant financial awards may be able to enroll in professional training programs, which can provide them with practical experience that will help them develop both their skills and credentials. For example, swimmers may use their prize money to hire skilled coaches who use advanced teaching methods to enhance their skills and achieve high performance in their sport. The quality of these competitions may noticeably rise as these professional athletes compete in actual competitions, and the athletic world may grow as a result.

However, I strongly believe that supporting sporting events and the growing tendency of prize money has clear negative effects. There is no denying that repeated wins might impact athletes’ competitive spirits negatively. It could lead to an unhealthy obsession with awards and excessive ambition, which would then drive athletes to use tricks to defeat competitors. For example, football players frequently utilize stimulant medications, like amphetamine, to increase the activity of their central nervous systems.

In summary, supporting sporting events with increasing prize money for participants as a means of promotion provides benefits for the growth of sports as well as drawbacks. (243 words)

Vocabulary 

• Sponsoring (Verb)

Meaning: to provide funds for (a project or activity or the person carrying it out)
E.g.: Richie is sponsoring the upcoming charity for the underprivileged.

• Marketing (Noun)

Meaning: the process of getting people interested in your company’s product or service
E.g.: They did their marketing on a creative level.

• Enroll (Verb)

Meaning: officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course
E.g.: Manu will enroll in the elementary school upcoming fall.

• Noticeably (Adverb)

Meaning: in a way that is easily seen or noticed; clearly
E.g.: He had changed noticeably after he came back from the war.

• Obsession (Noun)

Meaning: something or someone that you think about all the time
E.g.: The dog has an obsession with chasing squirrels.

• Stimulant (Noun)

Meaning: something that makes or causes something else to grow or develop
E.g.: Events on a global scale is the stimulant for the tourism of the country.

• Drawbacks (Noun)

Meaning: an aspect of something that makes it less acceptable
E.g.: Due to major drawbacks in the project, it was shut down.

Band 8 Sample Answer for Writing Task 2 Question – Sports Today is Turning into a Business

The combination of sports and business has gained significant popularity in recent times, as companies have been sponsoring athletes and tournaments, resulting in a notable increase in prize money. Some see it favourably, claiming that corporate sponsorship can improve sports, while others worry about possible drawbacks. While I think it’s important to find a middle ground, this essay will discuss both sides to come to a conclusion.

First of all, more sponsorship and award money can give athletes a stable financial future. Athletes can concentrate on their performance rather than financial difficulties when they receive lucrative sponsorships. Additionally, sponsorship agreements provide better training facilities and technical breakthroughs. Businesses that engage in research and development offer inventions that have the potential to improve athletes’ performance and safety. For example, since 2019, the sportswear company Adidas has been the official sponsor of the Little League World Series, giving participating teams access to uniforms, equipment, and footwear.

Nonetheless, critics believe that a loss of genuineness may result from the commercialization of sports. The emphasis on financial gain may replace the enjoyment of the game in the chase of profit, harming the integrity of sports. In addition, sponsors could have competing interests that threaten the integrity of the sponsored sporting property. For instance, there may be a conflict of interest when it comes to the reporting and coverage of a sports team if the club’s media channel is owned by the same firm that supports it.

In conclusion, even if the economic side of sports has seen a lot of improvements, in my opinion, it is crucial to approach it carefully and with a dedication to preserving the actual meaning of sportsmanship. Thus, maintaining the long-term viability and beneficial effects of the sports world requires finding a balance between financial rewards and the fundamental values of sports. (303 words)

Vocabulary 

• Middle ground (Phrase)

Meaning: a position between two opposite opinions in an argument, or between two descriptions
E.g.: Ramek and Shalek could not find a middle ground when it came to their football team.

• Lucrative (Adjective)

Meaning: producing much money or making a large profit
E.g.: It is a lucrative offer that no one can ignore.

• Breakthroughs (Noun)

Meaning: an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem
E.g.: Nina made a breakthrough in the winning strategy for the team.

• Access (Noun)

Meaning: the means or opportunity to approach or enter a place.
E.g.: We had access to the best New Year’s party in town.

• Commercialization (Noun)

Meaning: the process of bringing new products or services to market
E.g.: After the commercialization of the government projects, Lalesh became a millionaire.

• Integrity (Noun)

Meaning: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change
E.g.: Mana was respected by her colleagues due to her integrity and hard work.

• Viability (Noun)

Meaning: the ability to live, grow, and develop
E.g.: There is no viability in working in the company and so he stopped trying.

Band 9 Sample Answer for Writing Task 2 Question – Sports Today is Turning into a Business

Vocabulary 

• Implications (Noun)

Meaning: something that is suggested, or happens, indirectly
E.g.: Without understanding the implications of leaving home, he took a sudden step.

• Craze (Noun)

Meaning: an enthusiasm for a particular activity or object which appears suddenly and achieves widespread but short-lived popularity
E.g.: The craze for Keto diet has died down.

• Extensive (Adjective)

Meaning: covering a large area; having or being a large amount
E.g.: The scientists did an extensive research and yet could not come up with the solution.

• Transcend (Verb)

Meaning: be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere)
E.g.: Music transcends all boundaries and therefore is universal.

• Jeopardizes (Verb)

Meaning: to put something such as a plan or system in danger of being harmed or destroyed
E.g.: Although he belonged to the enemy troops, he did not jeopardize the little girl by telling her location.

• Compromised (Verb)

Meaning: exposed to suspicion or discredit
E.g.: The food company compromised the quality of the food to earn extra profit.

• Elite (Adjective)

Meaning: the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society
E.g.: He comes from an elite class of pilots and should be respected.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Connectors Used in the Sample Answers for Sports Today is Turning into a Business

Check out the list of connectors used in the above-given sample answers that will help you add coherence to your writing and earn points for your IELTS Writing Task 2 – Sports Today is Turning into a Business.

• To begin with/First of all/First and foremost
• For example/ For instance/To exemplify
• However/Nonetheless/On the flip side
• I strongly believe/I firmly believe/From my perspective
• In summary/In conclusion/To sum up
• Additionally/In addition/Furthermore/Moreover
• Thus

Now that you have gone through the sample answers on the topic – Sports Today is Turning into a Business – it is time for you to try writing on your own. For that, leave your answers as a comment below or you can use our FREE evaluation service!

Additional Resources

• IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic 02: Celebrities earn more money than other professionals. Is this justified?
• Cricket has Become More Popular than the National Sports – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Companies Should Provide Sports and Social Facilities for Local Communities. To What Extent Do You Agree? Sample Essay 
• IELTS Writing Tips and Tricks 2024
• It is more beneficial to take part in sports which are played in teams, like football – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some People Say That Sports Play an Important Role in Society- IELTS Writing Task 2 
• Some Companies Sponsor Sports and Sports Stars as a Way to Advertise Themselves – IELTS Writing Task 2