2007年VOA标准英语-Russians Thrilled as IOC Awards Sochi 2014 Wint

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
05 July 2007

The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, has awarded the 2014 Olympic Winter Games to the Russian resort town of Sochi. The choice sparked unbridled joy among Russians, who see the decision as confirmation¹ of their country's growing prestige. VOA's Moscow correspondent Peter Fedynsky has this report.

Thousands of spectators burst in cheers and applause as the Russian resort city of Sochi becomes the host of the 2014 winter games, 05 Jul 2007

"The 22nd Olympic Games are awarded to the city of Sochi."

This announcement from Guatemala City by IOC President Jacques Rogge prompted children in Sochi to jump for joy, and, as one reporter in the city put it, to elicit² the emotions of children in grownups.

Even Russians who do no follow or care about sports recognize the significance of the result. A Muscovite who gave his name as Nikolai is one of them.

Nikolai says the games will help develop Russia and her infrastructure³. It will, as he puts is, finally help clean up Sochi, and accordingly, it is also prestigious⁴ for our country.

IOC President Jacques Rogge (l) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the presentation of Sochi as a bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics

President Vladimir Putin put his own prestige on the line, traveling to Guatemala, to personally lobby the Russian case. He spoke⁵ not only in his own language, but also in French and English, which few people have ever heard him do.

"Winter sports are very popular in Russia," he said. "Our athletes have scored many victories and have made major contributions to the Olympic movement. But we have not yet had the honor to celebrate the Winter Olympics. Our national pledge to you is that the choice of Sochi is the best choice."

The Associated Press quotes IOC members and former Olympic gold medalists - French skier⁶ Jean Claude Killy and Ukrainian pole-vaulter Serhiy Bubka, as saying Mr. Putin's presentation made a good impression on the committee.

Sochi beat out Pyeongchang, South Korea by a mere⁷ four votes, 51-47. A bid by the Austrian city of Salzburg failed in the previous round.

President Putin virtually guarantees snow for the 2014 Winter Games, saying it is an area with huge amounts of natural snow at just the right time. His government is also promising⁸ a blizzard⁹ of money, $12 billion, to prepare Sochi for the games.

 

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 elicit   

v.引出,抽出,引起

参考例句：

• It was designed to elicit the best thinking within the government. 机构的设置是为了在政府内部集思广益。
• Don't try to elicit business secrets from me. I won't tell you anything. 你休想从我这里套问出我们的商业机密, 我什么都不会告诉你的。

3 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。

4 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

7 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。