2006年VOA标准英语-US Soccer Unites Immigrants

By Ade Astuti
New York City, NY
13 September 2006
 
watch Soccer Melting Pot
 
This year's World Cup in Germany rekindled¹ American interest in soccer. However, many immigrant communities in the U.S. have long been devoted² to it. In New York City, for instance, immigrant communities have long played soccer -- both to pass the time and also to break down language barriers. VOA's Jim Bertel narrates³.

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New York City's Chinatown is a popular attraction for tourists from around the world. One local park there is home to a melting pot of Americans from all different cultures and races.

The people here come from all over the world. They are united in their love for soccer -- a sport that is extremely popular throughout the world, but it still searching for broader appeal in the United States.

Ryota Habu   
  
Ryota Habu is from Japan and is a regular player at the park.  "This is I think a universal place. Many people from different countries. Without the language we can communicate by playing soccer, so that's what I like."

New York City is a very diverse city with a population that is 30 percent Hispanic, 26 percent African American and 10 percent Asian. Many are new immigrants to the U. S. and their shared passion for soccer helps them overcome language barriers.

Mikael Illiev  
  
Another game is being played in the East Village, near the East River. Many of the players are of Eastern European descent⁴. Mikael Illiev is originally from Bulgaria. "It's a melting pot," he says. "It's very interesting. Much [more] so than American football or baseball. Because they tend to be one kind of person, one kind of ethnicity. Whereas⁵ soccer, you get all kind… Latin Americans, Central Americans, Europeans, some Americans, a lot of Asians, a lot of Africans, it's a nice mix."

Adam Spangler  
  
Adam Spangler is a soccer enthusiast⁶ who writes an online journal, known as a blog, about soccer. His website follows the current developments in U.S. soccer.

"I think the most interesting thing I discovered is really the growth of American soccer, and just how diverse everything is. I mean, diversity is always the big thing when you talk about American soccer just because you have all the immigrants coming to the States and what not." Adds Adam, “But I think, that's been the most amazing thing to see how really there are no borders and no walls between soccer and people. It really brings out people together."

Playing soccer in a  New York City park   
  
Spangler says soccer crosses the barriers among different immigrant communities because it is fairly easy to start a game. "It's a simpler game, because in soccer it comes down to all you need is a ball, and some space. Whereas baseball and football, other sports you need a lot of equipment to play those sports. And soccer, you don't because soccer, by luck almost, is able to bring a lot more people to play it at one time."

The diversity seen in soccer games played in the parks of New York City can also be found on the U.S. National team, which, like the make-up of America, is a melting pot of various ethnicities and national origins.

1 rekindled   

v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• As soon as they met again his dormant love for her was rekindled. 他们一见面，他对她的旧情如乾柴烈火般又重新燃起。 来自辞典例句
• Ive found rekindled my interest in re-reading the books. 我发觉这提起了我再次阅读这些书的兴趣。 来自互联网

2 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

3 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

4 descent   

n.下降，下倾，斜坡，坡道，血统，世系

参考例句：

• We watched anxiously during her descent from the tree.我们焦急地看着她从树上爬下来。
• Many Americans are of English descent.许多美国人的祖籍是英国。

5 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。

6 enthusiast   

n.热心人，热衷者

参考例句：

• He is an enthusiast about politics.他是个热衷于政治的人。
• He was an enthusiast and loved to evoke enthusiasm in others.他是一个激情昂扬的人，也热中于唤起他人心中的激情。