VOA标准英语2012--Ukrainians Offer Free Rooms for Foreign Guests at Euro 2012

 

Ukrainians Offer Free Rooms for Foreign Guests at Euro 2012

Ukraine has never seen such a large number of foreign visitors, making the Euro 2012 championship a celebration - as well as a challenge. When it became obvious the visiting football fans would overwhelm¹ the country's limited hotel space, Ukrainian citizens decided² to lend a hand - by inviting³ them to stay in their homes.

One of those fans is Bjarne Luther, a 39-year-old Danish businessman. When Luther found that hotel prices in Ukraine had soared⁴ five-fold during the Euro championship, he thought about canceling his plans. 

But through an Internet site, he met Maryana and Dmytro Lytovchenko - who volunteered space in their home to help save Ukraine's international reputation.

““On TV, I heard about this initiative⁵ “Rooms for free.” They said the prices are too high, Europeans are disappointed," said Maryana Lytovchenko.

“We thought that it was very difficult for many fans to come, because it’s too expensive," said Dmytro Lytovchenko. "And we are ready to give them such an opportunity.”

Bjarne is grateful to his hosts - for the roof over his head and for the opportunity to learn more about Ukraine.

“Everything is overpriced because of the football, so it’s very difficult to find something for reasonable money," said Luther. "That was one reason. And also, I like to travel, to meet people, to hear their life story, to understand the country more, rather than sitting in a hotel room.”

Michael Knight⁶ emigrated⁷ from Ukraine to the United States more than 40 years ago. He came to the Euro championship to support his favorite Ukrainian team, and is staying with Victoria Denysenko’s family.

“We wanted to make a kind of gesture from Ukraine," said Victoria Denysenko. "We wanted to show that, apart from the ill political side, there is a human, normal side of Ukraine.”

Knight says even though the Ukrainian football team did not do so well, Ukraine is still winning.

“This Euro is success," said knight. "Ukraine wins on a big scale. Ukraine wins on a big scale for one reason - they put it on the map in every village, in every town all over the world!”

And Knight returns the hospitality⁸ during his free time between football matches - by teaching English to kids in a local youth camp.

The idea to provide free housing had grassroots origins, says Victoria Svitlova, of the "Friendly Ukraine" organization.

“There was the initiative, which came from people, common people," said Victoria Svitlova.

And project coordinator⁹ Maxym Prodan says that - compared to other cities where Euro championships have been held, it is only in Kyiv that more than 1,000 foreign guests have been accommodated¹⁰ for free.

“We wanted to show that we not only have expensive hotels, but also nice and kind people who are ready to host for free," said Maxym Prodan. 

1 overwhelm   

vt.使受不了，使不知所措，征服，制服

参考例句：

• No difficulty can overwhelm us.困难压不倒我们。
• After my lecture,the students began to overwhelm me with questions.讲课之后，学生们开始问一系列问题，使我不知所措。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

4 soared   

v.高飞( soar的过去式和过去分词 )；猛增；（音乐）升高；高耸

参考例句：

• The bird soared high, with outspread wings. 鸟儿展翅高飞。
• The rocket soared skywards. 火箭呼啸着朝天上飞去。

5 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

6 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

7 emigrated   

移居国外( emigrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He's emigrated to the USA and gone completely native. 他已移居美国且完全成了美国人。
• He emigrated to Belgium. 他移民到比利时。

8 hospitality   

n.好客，殷勤；adj.（气候等）宜人，适宜

参考例句：

• He welcomed you to enjoy his hospitality.他欢迎你去做客。
• Thank you for your kind hospitality.谢谢你的盛情款待。

9 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

10 accommodated   

v.容纳( accommodate的过去式和过去分词 )；使适应；向…提供住处；帮忙

参考例句：

• The guests are well accommodated. 待客周到。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Students are accommodated in homes nearby. 学生被安置在附近的住家中。 来自辞典例句