奥运特辑--英语学习系列

欣弃羁

五．奥运特辑
Beijing
blue
skies?
北京，蔚蓝的天空？
难度指数：★★★★☆
Beijing's anti-pollution efforts paying
off
? Just yesterday Xinhua published a highly
optimistic article on conditions in Beijing 50 days before the Olympics. According to Xinhua,
Beijing's skies are peachy-keen
:
The number of "blue sky" days was 12 more than the same period last year, according to
the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau. It was a clear sign that years of
anti-pollution efforts by the Olympic host city continue to pay off, said Du Shaozhong, the
bureau's deputy chief and spokesman.
Unfortunately one picture begs
to
differ.
Photographed by the Atlantic's James Fallows
yesterday at 10am, the city of Beijing is clearly suffocating
underneath a heavy blanket
of smog. Nick Mulvenney of Reuters blogs posted a similar picture yesterday, adding:
I wouldn’t want to run a marathon at the best of times, but to do so on a day like this
would be unpleasant in
the
extreme
.
(Australia's track and field athletes certainly agree with Mulvenney, having decided to shun
Beijing's opening ceremonies in part to avoid the pollution). Hopefully the panel of
overseas environmental experts that Beijing has recently hired will be able to improve
conditions.
pay
off
pay debt in full 还清债务/ to be successful or profitable 得到回报
Peachy-keen
adj. unusually fine 很不错的，极好的
beg
to
differ
恕不同意
Suffocate
v.
令人窒息
in
the
extreme
极度地，非常地
北京的反污染努力是否得到了成效？就在昨天，新华网发表了一篇关于奥运会前50 天北京环境的文
章，并对此表示高度乐观。据新华网称，北京的天空将很不错。
据北京市环保局的官员称，今年蔚蓝天空的日子，比去年同时期多了12 天。环保局副局长兼发言人
杜少中称：这是一个明显的迹象，多年来奥运会主办城市坚持反污染的努力已得到回报。
而不幸的是，一张图片似乎在说，恕不同意。这是James Fallows 昨天上午十点在大西洋上空拍的
一张照片，北京很明显地被压在一张由烟雾织成的毯子下，令人觉得窒息。昨天路透社的Nick Mulvenney
也公布了一张类似的照片,并附加道：
我不想在这个大好时光下去跑马拉松，但是，在这样的天气里去跑马拉松一定难受至极。
（澳大利亚的田径运动员一定会同意Mulvenney 的看法，正在考虑不去参加北京的开幕式，在某种程
度上就是为了避开环境污染）。所幸的是，北京最近雇佣的海外环境专家咨询团可以来改变现在的条件。
Olympic
etiquette:
'Eight
don't
asks'
奥运礼仪：8 个不能问
难度指数：★★★★☆
BEIJING, China (AP
) -- Questions about salaries are out. Ditto
queries about the age of a
foreigner visiting Beijing for the Olympics. And an inquiry about someone's love life? For
get it.
These are part of the "Eight don't asks" displayed on posters in a central Beijing district
that give conversational etiquette
guidelines to residents for when they meet foreigners
or disabled athletes during next month's Olympics.
One poster focuses on "etiquette when communicating with foreigners." Locals are
instructed not to ask foreigners personal questions about their age, salary, love life, health,
income, political views, religious beliefs or personal experiences.
"It's normal for Chinese to ask people they just met such questions, but foreigners
respond negatively to such questions," Beijing municipal government spokeswoman Wang
Zhaoqian said Wednesday.
"By educating locals, we hope that they will become more socially sensitive when
communicating with visitors," she said.
Another poster gives advice on talking to disabled people. Locals are told not to use
phrases such as "It's up there," or "It's over there" when talking to anyone who is visually
impaired,
and to avoid phrases such as "It's behind you" to physically impaired athletes.
Instead, locals are recommended to use phrases such as, "You are really great," or "You
are wonderful."
The posters are part of wide-ranging measures the government has taken to clean up
China's image during the Olympics. China's communist government and Beijing Olympic
organizers have been conducting sweeping campaigns to get citizens to wait patiently in
line, stop spitting and improve their driving habits.
AP
Associated Press 美国联合通讯社,美联社
ditto
adv. 同前
etiquette
n.礼节
impair
v. 削减，损伤impair the hearing 听力受损
中国北京（美联社） ——有关薪金的问题不要问，也不要问那些参加北京奥运会老外的年龄和他们
的感情问题。别去做这些事。
以上这些只是海报上“8 个不能问”中的一部分。如今这些海报已经贴满了北京中心城区的大街小巷，
当北京市民在奥运会期间与老外和残疾人运动员打交道时，这些海报将能为其提供交流礼节方面的指导。
其中的一份海报说的是“与老外交流时的礼仪”，告诫市民不要问关于年龄，薪金，感情，健康，收入，
政治观点，宗教信仰以及个人经历方面的问题。
北京市政府发言人王照谦（音译）女士于周三表示，当中国人遇到这些问题时会觉得很正常，但老外
则有所不同。
"通过教育，我们希望市民在与国外游客交流时能有一定的社会敏感性"。
而另外一份海报则是关于与残疾人士交流时的注意事项。在与视力有缺陷的人士交谈时，不要使用“就
在上面”或“就在那里”之类的词汇，而与身体有残疾的人士交流时，应尽量避免说“就在你后面”之类的话。
而是应该多用“你真是了不起了”或者“你真是太好了”之类的语言。
这些海报只是政府在奥运会期间为改善中国形象而采取的一系列措施中的一部分。中国的：）政府
和北京奥运会的组织者已经开始了一场大规模的整治行动，包括教育市民耐心排队，不随地吐痰，改变驾
驶习惯等。
30
reasons
to
watch
the
Beijing
Games
（I
）
30
大理由看北京奥运(
上)
编者按：2008 北京奥运已真正进入了倒计时阶段！在接下来的3 天中，我们将分篇为大家介绍此次奥运的
30 大看点，带您提前热身，共同见证并记录下这场史无前例的超级体育盛会。
难度指数：★★★★☆
1.
Volunteers
The 100,000-strong army of Beijing Olympic volunteers is the largest in Olympic history.
The 70,000
Olympic and 30,000
Paralympic volunteers has undergone months of training.
The good
Samaritans
from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Europe, the US and Australia will
join 400,000
city volunteers who will help visitors on Beijing's streets.
Volunteers were honored with the song, I Am a Star.
2.
Double
the
responsibility
2008 is the first time one organizing team will oversee both the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) is the
first organization to shoulder such a formidable responsibility and BOCOG has promised
the two events will be of equal splendor.
3.
First
digital
broadcast
High-definition
technology will be used for all TV broadcast operations, with all events
and ceremonies enjoying 5.1 surround sound, a first for the Olympics.
Clearer screen pictures and scenery will be a feature of the Beijing Games.
4.
Biggest
TV
audience
ever
A record 4
billion
people are set to watch the Beijing Games.
Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB), the official broadcaster of the Games, will produce
about 5,400
hours
of programs during the 17-day gala
,
2,000 more than in Athens four
years ago.
5.
Multimedia
for
the
first
time
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has, for the first time, separately sold
broadcasting rights for television and new media such as Internet and mobile networks.
CCTV acquired the TV rights for the Beijing Games, while CCTV.com was awarded the
domestic Internet and mobile platform license. CCTV.com recently signed an agreement
with Sohu.com, the Games' Internet content services sponsor, to share content.
6.
Biggest
media
contingent
ever
About 40,000
journalists will cover the Games, including 21,600 accredited media workers
in press, broadcasting and television.
The Beijing International Media Center will also provide some 10,000 non-accredited
journalists work areas and accommodation, among other services.
7.
Largest
number
of
host
cities
To help host a successful Games, six cities in China have joined Beijing as co-hosts.
Tianjin,
Shanghai,
Qinhuangdao
in Hebei province and Shenyang
in Liaoning province
will stage some Olympic soccer matches.
The coastal city of Qingdao
in Shandong province will host the sailing
regatta,
while
Hong
Kong
, a city with a long history of horse racing and matching first-class facilities,
will play host to equestrian events.
8.
New
sports
To modernize the Games, the IOC will introduce two new sports to the Beijing Games:
Bicycle motocross (BMX) and the 10km marathon swim.
BMX will offer two gold medals in individual men and women's competitions.
Marathon swimming will be held in Shunyi Water Park and offer two gold medals in
individual men and women's competitions.
Owing to limited participation worldwide, softball and baseball are expected to make their
final Olympic appearance in Beijing after being axed
from
the London program.
9.
Cheerleaders
Some 600 cheerleaders from all over the country will go all out to entertain spectators with
Chinese folk dancing, acrobatics, drum shows, lion dancing and martial
arts
during timeouts.
Cheerleaders were selected from national Olympic cheerleading competitions and
local clubs.
10.
The
Beijing
Green
The Olympic Forest Park, 680 hectares of plantation and lakes, has given the city a new
green lung.
Beijing also built a number of new water purification plants for daily water recycling,
replaced dated equipment at its power plants and retrofitted
gas stations citywide.
The inclusion of solar power, rain-recycling and energy-saving facilities during venue
construction are all helping the Games live up to its "Green Olympics" billing.
Beijing has also planted millions of trees to minimize sandstorms. It is also working with
neighboring provinces to cut emissions.
good
Samaritans
[喻]对苦难者给予同情帮助的好心人
high-definition
高清晰度
gala
节日庆祝活动，盛会
contingent
代表队，（为共同目标努力）的一队人
sailing
regatta
帆船比赛
be
axed
from
（大幅度地）削减
martial
arts
武术
retrofitted
adj. 改造翻新的
1.
志愿者
北京奥运会10 万志愿者的强壮队伍是奥林匹克历史上最壮大的一支。其中包括的7 万名奥运会志愿者和3
万名残奥会志愿者已经进行了数月的专业训练。
来自港澳台、欧洲、美国以及澳洲的一些优秀的热心人将会加入40 万的城市志愿者队伍，在奥运会期间
他们将为城市街头来自五湖四海的游客们提供帮助。
志愿者们有着一首他们引以为豪的歌——我是明星。
2.
双重责任
2008 年是有史以来第一次由同一支组织队伍负责奥运会以及残奥会的组织工作。
负责29 届奥运会的北京奥组委（BOCOG)是担负如此庄严艰巨责任的第一个组织机构，他们也做出承诺
将会让这两项赛事同样出色精彩。
3.
第一次数字播送
高清晰技术将被应用于所有的电视转播，包括所有的赛事项目和仪式，并采用了5.1 环绕立体声的效果。
对于奥运会来说，这也是第一次。
高清晰的画面效果将是北京奥运会的一大特色。
4.
历来最大的观众群
预计破纪录的40 亿人将观看北京奥运会。
北京2008 年奥运会的官方转播机构北京奥林匹克转播有限公司(BOB)将在17 天的赛程中制作将近5400
小时的转播节目，比四年前的雅典奥运会多了2000 个小时。
5.
传媒的先河
国际奥委会（IOC)第一次把转播权分别出让给了电视媒体和一些新媒介，像互联网和移动网络。
中央电视台（CCTV)在其获得北京奥运会电视转播权之际，其官方网站CCTV.com 也获得了许可成为国
内互联网和移动转播平台。CCTV.com 最近与搜狐网达成合作协议共享内容资源。搜狐公司是赛事的互联
网内容服务赞助商。
6.
最壮大的媒体队伍
有将近4 万名的记者队伍将全程跟踪赛事，其中包括来自平面、广播以及电视行业的21,600 名注册媒体
工作者。
除了一些基本的服务，北京国际新闻中心（BIMC)也将为大约1 万名非注册记者提供办公地点以及食宿安
排。
7.
最大数量的主办城市
为了主办一场成功的赛事，中国有6 个城市成为北京的协办城市。奥运会的一些足球赛事将在天津、上海、
河北省的秦皇岛以及辽宁省的沈阳市举行。
山东省的海滨城市青岛将举行奥运会的帆船项目，香港这个有着悠久赛马历史以及一流配备设施的城市将
主办奥运会的马术比赛。
8.
新项目
为了让奥运会更现代化，国际奥委会将在北京奥运会中引进两种全新的项目：自行车越野赛（BMX）和
10km 的马拉松游泳。
自行车越野赛将设男子与女子个人两块金牌。马拉松游泳将在顺义奥林匹克水上公园中进行，设男子与女
子个人两块金牌。
因为全球范围内比较有限的参与度，垒球和棒球比赛将在下一届伦敦奥运会中取消。这两个项目将作为奥
运项目最后一次出现在北京奥运会上。
9.
拉拉队
从全国各地经由全国奥运会啦啦队大赛以及各地俱乐部选拔出来的将近600 个助威队伍届时将在比赛暂
停间隙为广大观众展示中国的名族舞蹈、杂技、鼓技、舞狮以及武术。
10.
绿色北京
占地680 公顷的林地和湖泊，北京奥林匹克森林公园给这个城市带来了全新的绿色气息。
北京还建造了大量的新型水净化基地来改善日常的水循环，在全市范围内的发电站和改造的燃气站中用来
替代以往的一批陈旧设备。
在场馆建设中用到的包含太阳能、雨水循环以及能量节约设备让北京奥运成为名副其实的“绿色奥运”。
北京也种植了数以百万计的树木来降低沙尘天气带来的影响，为了遏止沙尘天气的扩散，北京还和邻近城
市相互合作。
30
reasons
to
watch
the
Beijing
Games
（II
）
30
大理由看北京奥运(
中)
编者按：2008 北京奥运已真正进入了倒计时阶段！在接下来的3 天中，我们将分篇为大家介绍此次奥运的
30 大看点，带您提前热身，共同见证并记录下这场史无前例的超级体育盛宴。
难度指数：★★★★☆
11.
Torch
relay
the
longest,
highest
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay was scheduled to travel the longest distance and
include the largest number of people over 130 days.
It reached the highest peak of Mount Qomolangma on May 8. Following the Sichuan
earthquake, the torch relay route was curtailed in each city and special mourning sessions
were added.
12.
English
A 170-page Chinese Menu in English Version is seen as exemplary
of one success of the
English-speaking campaign throughout the city.
Pop stars teaching audiences correct English pronunciation and cab drivers toting language
books all are part of Beijing's multilingual pre-Olympic effort.
13.
Babies
named
after
Olympics
A total of 4,104 Chinese have been named Aoyun (Chinese for "the Olympics") in homage
to the Beijing Olympic Games, according to the figures released by the National Citizen
Identity Information Center under the Ministry of Public Security in June.
Nearly 700 of the names were registered in 1992, when Beijing first applied to host the
Games and another 553 were registered in 2001, when the city officially won the bid.
About 92 percent of those named Aoyun are male.
14.
Weddings
during
the
year
and
on
opening
day
Aug 8, 2008, or 08-08-08, is more than just a date: it marks both the opening of the
Beijing Olympic Games and is considered a lucky day for marriage with so many eights. It
is estimated that 15,000 couples will marry in Beijing on the day and 130,000-140,000
this year.
15.
Highest
number
of
cultural
festivals
Games organizers have held an annual Olympic cultural festival since 2003, with the sixth
beginning two weeks ago and running for the next three months.
China's ancient culture and civilization are now being showcased to promote the Olympic
spirit and publicize a green, hi-tech and people's Olympics.
16.
Massive
Olympic
education
campaign
Educating young people through sports is one of the primary goals of the Olympic
Movement.
About 400 million young people in more than 500,000 schools across the country have
received Olympic lessons ahead of the Beijing Games. More than 500 model schools have
been named and a series of Olympic readers compiled and presented to students.
17.
Highest
number
of
doping
tests
The anti-doping
effort at the Beijing Games will be more extensive than ever, with as
many as 4,500 doping tests, 25 percent more than in Athens four years ago and 90
percent more than in Sydney in 2000.
Tests will be carried out from July 27 at 41 test stations at the Olympic Village and all
Olympic match venues.
18.
Highest
spending
The cost of the Beijing Games will dwarf
the previous Olympics in Greece with total
investment likely to reach $43 billion.
Venues, estimated to have cost about $1.8 billion to build, will be utilized as public sport
and entertainment complexes afterwards.
Beijing also spent $16 billion in the past decade reducing smog, while additional
infrastructure, such as the world's largest airport terminal, T3, an advanced railway station
and new subway systems required vast expenditure.
19.
Largest
transport
expansion
Beijing's first subway linking Fuxingmen and Beijing Railway Station was initially built for
military use, but today, 1.5 million passengers ride the 2-yuan subway each day.
The existing subway network spans 155 km and has 93 stations. Three new lines will open
shortly before the Games, to transport visitors to and from the new airport terminal and
between the Bird's Nest and downtown, and construction of more lines will continue
following them.
At least six others are already under construction, with an aim to stretch the network to
more than 561 km and 420 stations.
20.
Highest
number
of
mascots
-
five
Multiple Olympic mascots are not uncommon, but for the first time more than three figures
will share Summer Olympic mascot duty when the five Fuwa take center stage.
Featuring four of China's most popular animals - the fish, the panda, the Tibetan antelope
and the swallow - and the Olympic flame, the mascots' names are "Beibei," "Jingjing,"
"Huanhuan," "Yingying" and "Nini," which together reads in Chinese as "Beijing welcomes
you".
11.
最长、最高的的火炬传递
2008 年北京奥运火炬传递预定用时130 天，跨越最长的距离，涉及最多的人口。
火炬在5 月8 日抵达珠峰最高点。四川地震之后，随后在每个途经城市中火炬传递路线都被缩短，还增加
了一些特殊的追悼环节。
12.
英语
在整个国家举行的迎奥运说英语的活动中，一个170 页英文版本的中国菜单可以看成是这个活动成功的一
个典范的例子。
一些偶像明星帮助观众纠正英文发音；计程车司机们带着学习英语的书本，这些都是北京从多语言方面备
战奥运成绩的表现。
13.
名系“
奥运”
公安部下属机构全国公民身份信息中心6 月份给予的数据显示，在全国为了纪念奥运总共有4,104 人取名
为奥运。
大约700 个名字是在1992 年注册的，也就是北京第一次申请主办奥运的时候，另外有553 人是在2001
年也就是北京正式取得主办权的那一年注册了这个名字。
取名奥运的这些人中有大约92%是男性。
14.
婚礼就在奥运年/
开幕式日
2008 年8 月8 日或者08-08-08，这并不仅仅是个日期，它既是北京奥运会开幕的时间，也因为有这么
多的8 被大多数人看成是结婚的良辰吉日。估计在这一天在北京有15,000 对夫妇结婚，而有130,000
到140,000 新人则选择今年结婚。
15.
最大量的文化活动
奥运主办方自2003 起每年主办奥运文化节活动，第六届文化节已于2 周前开幕，活动持续时间为3 个月。
中国的古老文化和文明现在都被陈列出来，借此来弘扬奥运精神，宣传绿色、科技和充满人文气息的奥林
匹克。
16.
大面积的奥运教育活动
通过运动来教育年轻人是奥林匹克运动的一个基本目标。
在全国500,000 多所学校中大约4 亿的青少年已经在奥运会之前接受了奥运相关的课程。500 多所学校
被评为模范学校，一系列的奥运读物被编写发送到了学生的手上。
17.
最大量的兴奋剂测试
北京奥运会上反兴奋剂的力度将比以往范围都要广。将会有4,500 例兴奋剂测试，这比在四年前的雅典奥
运会要多出25%，而与2000 年的悉尼奥运则要多出90%。
这些测试将从7 月27 日开始在奥运村和所有的奥运比赛场馆的41 处测试点展开。
18.
最高的投资
北京奥运会的总投资成本将近达到430 个亿，这个数字是前一届希腊奥运会望尘莫及的。
预计将花费18 个亿建造的场馆设施奥运之后将会被作为公共运动和娱乐的综合场所。
在过去的10 年，北京投入了160 个亿的资金用于减少烟尘，而另外的一些额外的基础设施，像世界上最
大的机场终端--T3 航站楼、先进的火车站以及一个新的地铁系统都需要巨额的花费。
19.
最大规模的交通扩建
北京第一条地铁线路连接复兴门和北京火车站最初是为了军事需求而修建的，而现在每天有150 万人要乘
坐2 元钱的地铁。
现存的地铁网全长155km，覆盖93 个站点。三条新线路将在奥运会之前开通，方便游客来往于机场还有
鸟巢和市区之间。更多线路的修建将会在这之后逐步展开。
最少有6 条线路已经在建设之中，目标是要把北京的地铁网全长扩展至561km 涵盖420 个站点。
20.
最多数量的吉祥物--
福娃
多数量的吉祥物就已经是不寻常了，当五个福娃展现在公众面前时，夏季运动会还是第一次有了三个以上
的吉祥物。
五福娃采集了奥运圣火和中国最有名的四种动物的形象，有鱼、熊猫、藏羚羊和燕子，这几个吉祥物的名
字分别是“贝贝”、“晶晶”、“欢欢”、“迎迎”和“妮妮”，连起来就是“北京欢迎你”的意思。
exemplary
adj. 模范型的
homage
n. 敬意pay homage to 对…表示敬意
anti-doping
反兴奋剂
dwarf
v. 让…相形见绌
mascot
n. 吉祥物
30
reasons
to
watch
the
Beijing
Games
（III
）
30
大理由看北京奥运
(
下
)
编者按：2008 北京奥运已真正进入了倒计时阶段！在接下来的3 天中，我们将分篇为大家介绍此次奥运的
30 大看点，带您提前热身，共同见证并记录下这场史无前例的超级体育盛会。
难度指数：★★★★☆
21.
Venues
on
fengshui
Beijing wished for its Olympic venues to be an expansion of its history and culture, both of
which are firmly set on the spine
of the city, a 7.7 km axis line running right through the
emperor's seat at the Forbidden City, the middle of Tian'anmen Square, the Drum and Bell
towers and Yongdingmen.
The north-south axis was believed to bring eternal stability, prompting designers of the
Bird's Nest and the Water Cube to position them on either side of it.
In doing so, they have integrated modern ideas with the deep-rooted spirit of the Middle
Kingdom.
22.
Record
number
of
sponsors,
revenue
Since launching the Beijing 2008 Olympic Marketing Plan in September 2003, a total of 63
enterprises have become sponsors of the Beijing Games, including 12 worldwide Olympic
partners.
BOCOG's deal with sports equipment supplier adidas covers 18 sports, and more than
6,000 officially licensed Olympic products have hit the market.
23.
Largest
ever
team
from
China
China will field
its largest Olympic team to
date
when about 570 athletes contest 28
sports in Beijing.
But Chinese sports officials are trying to downplay predictions that the nation will scoop
the most gold medals, affirming US and Russia as sporting powerhouses
.
At the 2004 Athens Games, 407 Chinese athletes participated in 26 sports and finished
second on the
medal
tally
after the US.
24.
Lowest
ticket
prices
Taking into account China's average purchasing power, BOCOG ensured a low-price policy
for Beijing Olympic and Paralympic tickets.
Opening ceremony prices were capped at 5,000 yuan ($641) per head, while the lowest
price to a sports competition was 30 yuan ($4).
Closing ceremony tickets ranged from 150-3,000 yuan ($19-385), preliminary competition
tickets from 30-300 yuan ($4-39) and tickets to the finals cost between 60 and 1,000 yuan
($8-128).
BOCOG also reserved about 14 percent of all domestically sold tickets for students at the
handsome
price of 5 yuan ($0.6) and 10 yuan ($1.2) for preliminaries and finals
respectively.
25.
Highest
number
of
foreign
coaches
In striving for excellence, various Chinese national teams have invited foreign coaches to
guide them.
More than 30 foreign coaches are currently working with the Chinese Olympic team.
Many among them, such as men's basketball coach Jonas Kazlauskas from Lithuania and
synchronized
swimming
head coach Masayo Imura from Japan, are expected to lead the
home outfits to their peak performances.
26.
Number
of
China-born
athletes
representing
other
federations
A group of Chinese-born athletes representing other countries or regions will be an
important force in Beijing.
Led by former badminton national team member Zhou Mi and Wang Chen, who represent
Hong Kong, and table tennis player Li Jiawei of Singapore, they will pose formidable
challenges to their Chinese rivals.
27.
Number
of
Chinese
coaches
in
other
countries
and
regions
A number of Chinese coaches will lead foreign teams on home soil, such as women's
volleyball legend Lang Ping (right), who will lead the US women's team.
Meanwhile, former coach of the Chinese badminton team Li Mao will lead the South Korean
team.
28.
Medals
of
jade
Olympic medals are for the first time made of metal and jade. The medals were inlaid
with Kunlun jade from China's Qinghai province in a symbol of "respect" and "virtue" in the
Chinese tradition.
China's rich culture and history is clearly embodied in the winning designs, which reflect
the values of ethics and honor, combined the with Olympic and Paralympic spirit.
29.
Wushu
People who love Chinese martial arts must not miss the Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament
to be held on
the
sidelines
of
the Beijing Olympic Games from Aug 21 to 24 at the
Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium.
About 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions will contest. Approved by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Chinese martial arts competition will feature
15 events, including 10 in Taolu (the routines) and five for Sanshou (fights).
Although not a medal sport, the tournament will be an important showcase and
springboard
for wushu's wish to join the Olympic family.
30.
Significance
of
08-08-08
It is no coincidence that the Beijing Games begins at 8 pm on the 8th day of the 8th
month of '08.
The number 8 has special significance to the Chinese, because 8 in Chinese is pronounced
"ba", which sounds a lot like "fa", which means prosperity or wealth. The number 8 is
highly favored among the Chinese for its connotations of good luck, fortune and longevity.
spine
n.脊梁，中心
field
vt.使…上场（比赛）
to
date
到目前为止
scoop
v.急速地获取；横扫
powerhouse
n.精力充沛或力量强大的人/事
the
medal
tally
奖牌榜
synchronized
swimming
花样游泳
inlay
v.镶嵌
on
the
sidelines
of
作为旁观者
springboard
n.跳板，推动力
21.
风水宝地
北京希望所建造的奥运场馆能作为北京体现其历史和文化的一个延伸，这两者都能在城市的中心标志上得
到体现——长达7.7 公里的中轴线穿越紫禁城的皇帝龙椅，天安门正中，钟鼓楼和永定门。
这条南北走向的轴线被认为能给国家带来长久的稳定，所以鸟巢和水立方的设计者就把这两个场馆建造在
了这条轴线的两边。
他们的做法把传统根深蒂固的中央集权的思想和现代的一些想法很好地整合在了一起。
22.
赞助商数量破纪录
自从2003 年9 月2008 北京奥运会市场计划启动以来，共有63 个企业成为北京奥运会的赞助商，包括
12 个奥运全球赞助商。
北京奥组委（BOCOG）与运动器材提供商adidas 达成协议，为18 个项目提供产品。另外有多达6,000
多个官方授权的奥运产品已经投放到市场了。
23.
史上最庞大的中国代表队
中国将会派出有约570 名运动员，涵盖28 个体育项目的庞大奥运会代表队伍。
但中国体育官员并没有断然预测中国代表队会拿下最多的金牌，并肯定美国和俄罗斯是两个体育强国。
在2004 年的雅典奥运会上，中国代表队的407 名健儿参与了26 个项目，最终在金牌榜上仅次于美国位
居第二。
24.
最低的门票价格
考虑到中国的平均消费水平，北京奥组委在奥运会和残奥会门票价格上推行低价政策。
开幕式的门票价格最高是每人5,000 元人名币（641 美元），比赛项目中的门票最低价格是每人30 元
（4 美元）。
闭幕式的门票价格从150 到3,000 元不等（19 到385 美元），预赛门票价位从30 到300 元（4 到39
美元），决赛的门票价格从60 到1,000 元不等（8 大澳128 美元）。
北京奥组委也专为学生预留了14%的门票低价销售，预赛和决赛的门票价格分别为5 元（0.6 美元）和
10 元（1.2 美元）。
25.
最多的外国教练
为了为取得佳绩而奋斗，很多的中国国家队伍邀请了一些外国教练来指导训练。
目前在中国的奥运队伍中有30 多名外籍教练。
这些教练中有一些将会带领着他们的队伍踏上他们的巅峰征程，例如有来自立陶宛的国家男篮教练尤纳
斯·卡兹劳斯卡斯和来自日本的花样游泳队总教练井村雅代。
26.
中国籍运动员参加其他联盟代表队
有一部分的中国籍运动员将代表其他的国家和地区参加奥运会，这对中国来说将会是很强的冲击。
香港代表队将由前国家羽毛球队员周蜜和王晨带队，还有乒乓球选手李佳薇代表新加坡代表队，他们将是
中国代表队的劲敌。
27.
其他国家和地区的中国籍教练
一些中国籍的教练将带领他们的队伍在祖国的土地上踏上征程，例如女子排球的传奇人物郎平将会带领美
国女子排球队。
同时，前羽毛球国家队教练李矛将带领韩国队参赛。
28.
用玉做奖牌
第一次奥运会的奖牌将会用金属和玉来打造。这些镶嵌着青海昆仑玉的奖牌是中国传统中敬意和美德的象
征。
中国丰富的文化和悠久的历史在奖牌的设计上得到体现，它结合了奥运会和残奥会的精神，反映了道德和
荣誉的价值。
29.
武术
喜欢武术的朋友千万不要错过从8 月21 日至24 日在奥体中心体育馆举行的北京奥运会之外的一场“2008
北京武术比赛”。
有大约来自43 个国家的128 名运动员将参与比赛。经国际奥委会批准，这次的中国武术比赛拟定为15
个单项，套路10 项和散打5 项。
尽管不是奥运会奖牌项目，但这次的比赛将是武术成为奥运会项目的一个展示机会和重要跳板。
30.08-08-08
的重要意义
北京奥运会在08 年的第八个月份的第八天的晚上八点开幕并不是巧合。
对于中国人来说，8 这个数字有着特殊的意义，因为8 的中文发音听起来很像“发”，这个字的有繁荣富强
之意。因为有着好运和长久的意义，所以8 这个数字在中国很受欢迎。