青岛为承办2008年奥运会帆船比赛做准备

Qingdao Prepares to Host 2008

Olympic Sailing Events

青岛为承办2008年奥运会帆船比赛做准备

 

The spotlight¹ has been on Beijing ever since it was selected to host the 2008 Summer Olympics - but there are several other Chinese cities that will serve as venues³ for competitions. Among them is Qingdao -- the scenic⁴ port city where the sailing races will take place.

 

When the city of Qingdao is mentioned, many people in China associate it with one thing: its famous beer and the annual international beer festival.

 

But since 2001, this city in eastern China has something else to be proud of: Qingdao was chosen as the site for the sailing competition when Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics.

 

Qingdao is comfortably nestled between mountains on one side and the Yellow Sea on the other. Li Fengli is the deputy⁵ secretary-general of the sailing committee of the Beijing Olympic Games based in Qingdao. He says the Olympics mean a lot for this proud city.

 

Li Fengli: It will be something looks like a mark pen. We can use this mark pen to mark the city on the world' atlas⁶, to let more people know this is Qingdao. The sailing events will make Qingdao more popular in the world ... that means more chances, more opportunities.

 

Mr. Li says since Qingdao won the right to host the sailing games, investments have been pouring into the city.

 

Qingdao has already started to build the Olympic sailing center. The venue², which is located at a former shipyard, covers a total area of 45 hectares. The organizers expect the marina to be completed in the first half of 2006.

 

While the Olympic committee and city planners focus on ways to improve the city's infrastructure⁷, there are growing numbers of Qingdao residents beginning to show an interest in water sports.

 

It is a foggy, hot and humid day. But, the sailing club at Badaguan in Qingdao still has many visitors. Some of them are just sitting on the terrace⁸, drinking cold beverages¹⁰ while watching a few sail boats bob in the water. Others prefer a more active afternoon -- taking wind surfing lessons.

 

Gao Jiangtao started learning how to surf three months ago. He laughs when asked about his skills.

 

Gao Jiangtao: At least I could go and sail back safely to shore ... I am just a beginner.

 

Mr. Gao works at a bank and is a native of Qingdao. He has been living in this seaside city all of his life. But, he has never tried any water sports before. Now he comes to the sailing club every weekend.

 

Gao Jiangtao: This is just a way to keep fit for me.

 

Yan Lei is the manager of the Wind-Catcher sailing club. He says they were one of the first clubs that saw the potential to make money in this industry, and now with the Olympics coming there are many places in Qingdao where Chinese can go and learn water sports.

 

Yan Lei: Qingdao is now called the 'sailing city.' More and more people are now learning these sports. To be honest, this [interest] is creating jobs in the city.

 

But for some Chinese, water sports are still considered an extravagance. A taxi driver in Qingdao never thought of going to a club to learn how to sail. He earns about $300 a month. He says renting a boat is out of his budget.

 

Taxi driver: I never heard of sailing before. I do not know what kind of sport it is. I found out about sailing when they announced that we are going to be a host for the Olympics.

 

When asked whether he will go and watch the games in 2008, he worries that the tickets will be too expensive.

 

Other concerns are being voiced from a different camp. Coaches and managers from some international yacht¹¹ clubs fear that the August games could be a disaster - since Qingdao suffers from very high humidity¹² and a chronic¹³ lack of wind in the summer.

 

Brian Staite was a coach for Britain's Royal Yachting Association. He came to Qingdao with a sailing team in August 2001. He recalls his experience racing¹⁴ there.

 

Brian Staite: It was a bit of a nightmare¹⁵, really, obviously any sailing event needs wind, and Qingdao does not have a lot of it at that time of the year. We also have numbers of day with fog, again with no wind. Obviously you cannot go sailing when it is foggy anyway. And the tide is very strong ... it is quite difficult to understand (how to sail there) without a lot of studies on what is going on.

 

However Qingdao's suitability to hold the games will be tested in the years to come -- as the city will play host to a series of international sailing races leading up to the 2008 deadline.

 

China has also stepped up the training of its own sailing team. Most of the members are from Qingdao. The locals are hoping that the games will not only put Qingdao in the international spotlight, but will also produce some homegrown champions.

 

Siska Silitonga, for VOA news, Beijing.

 

注释：

venue [5venju:] n. 比赛地点

scenic [5si:nik] adj. 景色优美的

nestle [5nes(E)l] vi. 位于，坐落在

mark pen 符号记录笔

atlas [5AtlEs] n. 地图，地图集

shipyard [5FipjB:d] n. 造船厂

hectare [5hektB:] n. 公顷（等于1万平方米）

marina [mE5ri:nE] n. 码头

foggy [5fC^i] adj. 雾深的

humid [5hju:mid] adj. 充满潮湿的，湿润的

terrace [5terEs] n. 露台，阳台

beverage⁹ [5bevEridV] n. 饮料

potential [pE5tenF(E)l] n. 潜能，潜力

extravagance [ik5strAvE^Ens] n. 奢侈

yacht [jRt] n. 风帆船，快艇

chronic [5krRnik] adj. 长期的，惯常的

nightmare [5naitmeE(r)] n. 梦魇，恶梦

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

4 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

5 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

6 atlas   

n.地图册，图表集

参考例句：

• He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
• The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 terrace   

n.平台，阳台，梯田；vt.使成梯田，给...建阳台

参考例句：

• The dining-room opens onto a paved terrace.餐厅通往一个铺砌的露台。
• She was waiting for him at the cafe terrace.她在咖啡馆露台上等他。

9 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

10 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

11 yacht   

n.游艇，快艇

参考例句：

• He was responsible for the location of the missing yacht.他负责查明失踪游艇的下落。
• He planned to cross the Pacific by yacht.他曾打算乘快艇横渡太平洋。

12 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。

13 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

14 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

15 nightmare   

n.恶梦，可怕的事物，无法摆脱的恐惧

参考例句：

• I was glad to awake from such a nightmare.我庆幸终于从噩梦中醒来了。
• I had a nightmare last nightand,lost sleep.昨夜我作了个恶梦，失眠了。