2007年VOA标准英语-Rio Pinning Olympic Hopes on Pan Am Games

By David Byrd
Rio de Janeiro
13 July 2007

The 15th Pan American Games, a multi-sport Olympic style competition for the Western Hemisphere, open Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  As VOA's David Byrd reports, the games are part of Rio's plan to bid for the 2016 Olympics.

The Pan American Games feature more than 5,500 athletes from 42 countries and territories, and are meant to serve as a showcase for Rio de Janeiro.

Joao Havelange Stadium

The city has gone all out in preparing for these games, spending more than $2 billion to build new facilities, including the gleaming, 45,000 seat Joao Havelange Stadium and a new athletes' village. 

That spending has drawn¹ criticism in a city where some children cannot go to school because of a lack of teachers, where police are fighting an ongoing² war with drug lords in the slums, and where traffic is notoriously clogged³ because of infrastructure⁴ problems.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said he thinks the money was well spent.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge

"The only comment I can make is on the legacy⁵," he said.  "I am not going to comment on the budget, because this is not my responsibility.  But I can say one thing having seen the infrastructure.  This will leave a tremendous legacy for Rio not just for the 16 days of competition, but for decades to come, for many generations who will benefit from this legacy.  And I think in this aspect is it socially warranted and responsible."

Part of the legacy of the Pan American Games could come when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup football tournament. The International Football Federation⁶'s rotation⁷ system has the tournament in South America, and the CONMEBOL federation has chosen Brazil as the only candidate.

Rio was in danger of not being ready to host the Pan American Games, because of construction backlogs⁸ and infrastructure problems, but now only finishing touches are needed.  Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Arthur Nuzman, speaking at a news conference Thursday, downplayed questions on whether the venues⁹ would be ready in time.

Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Arthur Nuzman

"The information that I have is that everything is ready for the TV," he noted¹⁰.  "The last adjustments are being made for the lights for the television broadcasters."

The Pan Am games are also part of Rio's campaign to host the 2016 Olympics.  In addition to the Brazilian city, Madrid, Spain, Chicago, Illinois, Tokyo, Japan, and Baku, Azerbaijan are bidding. Other cities could also enter the race. 

With the 2008 Olympics in Asia, the 2010 Winter Games in North America, and the 2012 summer and 2014 Winter Games in Europe, Pan Am Organizers believe that Rio has an excellent chance of winning the 2016 bid. The IOC will choose the 2016 host city in October of 2009.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 clogged   

（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞

参考例句：

• The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。
• The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。

4 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。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 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。

7 rotation   

n.旋转；循环，轮流

参考例句：

• Crop rotation helps prevent soil erosion.农作物轮作有助于防止水土流失。
• The workers in this workshop do day and night shifts in weekly rotation.这个车间的工人上白班和上夜班每周轮换一次。

8 backlogs   

积压未办之事( backlog的名词复数 )； 没交付的订货； 备用； 备用物

参考例句：

• "You'll need kindling and medium wood and logs and backlogs. “点火柴、引火柴、原木、垫底的，你都用得着。” 来自名作英译部分
• Our manufacturers have heavy backlogs on their hands. 我们的生产厂商手头有许多积压而没有交付的订单。

9 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

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。