2006年VOA标准英语-South African President Pledges Successful Socc

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
24 October 2006

South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, has told organizers of the 2010 Soccer World Cup that his country will spare no effort to ensure a successful soccer World Cup championship in four years.  Mr. Mbeki was speaking in Capetown at the first workshop of officials from the world soccer governing body, corporate¹ sponsors and the South African government.

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South African President Thabo Mbeki Tuesday sought to ease fears that preparations for the 2010 soccer World Cup are falling behind schedule, pledging that all preparations will be completed on time.

South African President Thabo Mbeki  
  
He promised officials of the International World Soccer Federation², FIFA, that as they tour the country they will be impressed.

"They [the foreign visitors] will see a lot of exciting work in progress in many sectors³ of our society to give meaning to our humanity as our current preparations for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup stand out as a yet another example of a great site of work in progress in Africa," he said.

His remarks follow expressions of concern by some international sports officials that work on the 10 stadiums has yet to begin in earnest.

Others have voiced concern over inadequate⁴ transportation and communications infrastructure⁵ and a lack of security.

 
Motorcyclists pass massive wall mural advertisement alongside main freeway in Johannesburg, October 24, 2006
  
South African officials assure skeptics that preparations are underway.  The government to date has budgeted more than $1 billion to upgrade roads, airports, and railway lines.  And it has earmarked roughly $667 million to build several new stadiums and renovate⁶ others.

The government also says it will upgrade public transportation and private minibus taxis.

South Africa expects 400,000 visitors to attend the World Cup in four years.  It estimates that the tournament will generate more than 100,000 new jobs and inject several billion dollars into the economy.

1 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

5 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。

6 renovate   

vt.更新，革新，刷新

参考例句：

• The couple spent thousands renovating the house.这对夫妇花了几千元来翻新房子。
• They are going to renovate the old furniture.他们准备将旧家具整修一番。