万花筒 2008-08-27&-08-28 再见北京，伦敦再见

Just as the Games had begun, fireworks and pageantry filled Beijing's National Stadium at the end of 16 days of competition.

Only this time, the massive¹ Olympic torch which had burnt constantly over the stadium throughout slowly faded out.

The closing ceremonies for the Summer Games included the same dramatic² flare³ at the opening ceremonies, with an army of dancers, acrobats⁴ and drummers and the parade of the athletes filling the field, but also included a show within the show by London, host of the 2012 Games. There was a red double-decker bus. Performance of " Whole Lotta Love "by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and a soccer boot by David Beckham. Capping the festivities, another massive display of fireworks which rocked the city and as Summer Olympic attention now turns to London, the English city held a party of its own on Sunday. Hundreds gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to wave 2012 flags.

 

Oh, we've just had a wonderful time in watching the handover, getting excited, 'cause my son's gonna be in the 2012 Olympics, the Para Olympics. He is a swimmer, I'm really excited.

 

Joining the festivities there, US swimmer Michael Phelps, he says he is looking forward to competitions ahead. He's going to mix things up a bit.

 

Bob is my coach, he’s trying to, he said to me that he is going to put everything that he's done coaching me, throw it out the door, and try something completely different.

 

Phelps won 8 gold medals in Beijing, in one of the most riveting⁵ and lasting⁶ performances in Olympic history.

 

Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press.

 

1 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。

2 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。

3 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。

4 acrobats   

n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人

参考例句：

• I was always fascinated by the acrobats at the circus. 我总是着迷于马戏团里的杂技演员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The acrobats' performance drew forth applause from the audience. 杂技演员的表演博得了观众的掌声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 riveting   

adj.动听的，令人着迷的，完全吸引某人注意力的；n.铆接（法）

参考例句：

• I find snooker riveting though I don't play myself.虽然我自己不打斯诺克，但是我觉得它挺令人着迷。
• To my amazement,I found it riveting.但令我惊讶的是，我发现它的吸引人处。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。