VOA标准英语2010年-Football Tournament for Underprivilege

member for team Alexander, center, challenges against Paraguay during their opening Football for Hope Festival 2010 match at Alexander township in Johannesburg, South Africa, 04 Jul 2010

As the football World Cup enters its final days, South African President Jacob Zuma and senior football officials have kicked off a parallel seven-day tournament between teams of underprivileged young people, girls and boys, from 32 countries.  This is the first tournament of the Football for Hope program, which aims to use the popularity of football to bring social change.  It is part of FIFA's World Cup legacy¹ program.

 

The head of football's governing body, Sepp Blatter, accompanied the South African president to the impoverished² township of Alexandra, in northeastern Johannesburg, for the launch of the Football for Hope Tournament. Blatter said this tournament's focus is global and social advancement³.

"And what is the aim of Football for Hope?  It is to connect people, to bring people together, people from all around the world and to enjoy this game.  You know, we are with the World Cup in South Africa.  It is (Is it) for the African continent?  No, it is for the whole world," said Blatter.

Blatter also praised South Africa for organizing the first World Cup on African soil.  President Zuma responded by thanking the FIFA president for his unwavering support in the face of those who doubted the event could be held successfully in Africa.

"What is special about the president of FIFA is that even at a point when there were skeptics who were saying this can not happen, he said it will happen," said Zuma.  "People did not believe we could do it.  And yes, we have done it.  This has been a wonderful tournament, now, topping it up, is Football for Hope."

The Football for Hope program is sponsored by FIFA in partnership⁴ with civic⁵ groups in some 50 countries.  It seeks to attract disadvantaged young people through football to promote education on health and children's rights, peace building, anti-discrimination and the environment.

A team of Israeli and Palestinian youths is competing, as well as squads⁶ from Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, Cambodia, Britain and the United States.  There are no referees⁷.  The players must resolve any disputes themselves.

FIFA says it plans to build 20 Football for Hope Centers in Africa this year.  Two have already been launched in the South African cities of Cape⁸ Town and Johannesburg.

As the tournament was kicking off, thousands of football fans turned out in Johannesburg to bid an emotional farewell to Ghana's national team.  The team was returning home after losing its World Cup match (Friday) to Uruguay on penalty kicks.  Ghana had carried the hopes of the continent when became the only African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

But that did not stop the outpouring of support from people like Tumi Bule.  "I am excited to see the guys (Ghanaians).  They look (like) they have recovered from the whole drama, so I think we are all happy now. 2 014, we will be there.  We will win the World Cup," said Bule.

The Ghana team bus paraded from the southeastern township of Soweto to the northern suburb of Melrose Arch, and the team later met former President Nelson Mandela at his home.

 

1 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。

2 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

6 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句

7 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句

8 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。