VOA标准英语2008年-International Youth Camp Fosters Olympic Spirit

Nearly 500 youngsters¹ from around the world are getting a close-up view of the Olympics at the Olympic Youth Camp, which got underway in Beijing Wednesday. Mike O'Sullivan reports, the camp uses sports to build bridges between cultures.
　
Detyange Vanesse and her friend are visiting China from Ivory² Coast

The students, most aged³ 16 to 18, came from more than 200 countries and territories to experience the Olympic spirit firsthand.

Former Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch was here for the opening Wednesday, on the sprawling⁴ campus⁵ of a Beijing middle school.

This is the largest Olympic youth camp ever, and it has the greatest age range. The youngest participant is a 12-year-old Iraqi boy and the oldest is 28. This is also the first camp to include disabled youngsters. Ten are taking part this year.

The camp program was started at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, and has been a regular part of the Olympiad since the Tokyo games in 1964.

Participants arrived from all around China and from every continent to take part in recreational sports such as soccer and tennis, to watch Olympic competitions and meet new friends.
　
Nobert Bonnici, 18, is from Malta

Most are seeing China for the first time. Norbert Bonnici, an 18-year-old from Malta, is struck with China's size and Beijing's towering skyline.

"It's a very large country. It's got a lot of skyscrapers⁶. In Malta, we only have three," he said.

Beijing is showcasing its growth, and Bulgarian student Monica Minecheva was awed⁷ by the sights of the city.
　
Monica Minecheva is visiting from Bulgaria

"Yesterday, we went to walk and I love the streets and city lights, so beautiful," she said.

Detyange Vanesse and her friend, both from Ivory Coast, are also impressed with what they've seen so far.

"I like Beijing," she said. "The welcome was warm. We are having fun. They [the locals] are hospitable⁸, always smiling. There are lots of activities, games and everything. And the food is good, friends as well. It's nice."

Carolina Castelli of Uruguay says she is thrilled to be here.
　
Carolina Castelli, from Uruguay, says the Chinese people are very friendly

"It's really amazing because I never imagined being in the Olympics and here meeting 400 young people from all over the world, and also it's in China, so it's more amazing for me, too," she said.

Olympic athletes are aiming for gold medals. Norbert Bonnici has his own Olympic hopes.

"Get many friends from different countries, and maybe learn Chinese," he said.

These students say that beyond the excitement of Olympic competition, the games are about building bridges between people, and they plan to build some themselves.

 

1 youngsters   

n.孩子( youngster的名词复数 )；少年；青年；年轻人

参考例句：

• We followed the youngsters at a more sedate pace. 我们跟在年轻人后面，步子稍慢一点。
• The camp is for youngsters aged 8 to 14. 这次夏令营是为8至14岁的少年儿童安排的。

2 ivory   

n.象牙，乳白色；adj.象牙制的，乳白色的

参考例句：

• My grandmother has some jewelry made of ivory.我祖母有一些象牙首饰。
• It is carved from ivory.它是用象牙雕成的。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

5 campus   

n.大学校园，学校校园；大学　

参考例句：

• They spoke of the old days on the campus.他们谈起昔日的校园生活。
• The campus covers an area of twenty square kilometres.这个校园占地二十平方公里。

6 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

7 awed   

adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声，人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 hospitable   

adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的

参考例句：

• The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客，无论是他的朋友还是同事，他都盛情接待。
• The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。