VOA标准英语2008年-South Africa Prepares for 2010 World Cup

By Scott Bobb
Durban
10 June 2008

Qualifying matches have begun around the world for the football World Cup, which begins in two years. In 2010 the World Cup is to be held for the first time in Africa and attention is focusing on host nation South Africa. In anticipation¹, sports and tourism officials have assured industry observers and sports fans that the country will be ready. They appeared at a major trade fair in the port city of Durban. Correspondent Scott Bobb was there and has this report.
　

Durban Trade Fair model

Football fever was the major theme at South Africa's tourism trade fair in Durban this year. And one of the attractions was an exhibition game of the world's most popular sport.

Organizers of the 2010 Soccer World Cup also launched a major offensive to dispel² any doubts about South Africa's readiness when competition begins in two years.

The head of the local organizing committee, Danny Jordaan, told several hundred journalists that construction was ahead of schedule on the 10 stadiums to be used for the matches.

"Progress on the stadiums is very advanced in many cases," he said. "And in some cases we have difficulties. But that is something which every other organizing committee experiences. However, we are convinced that the stadiums will be complete long before kickoff on 11th of July [2010]."
　

Durban's Moses Mabhiba Stadium under construction

Durban's stadium, one of several all-new facilities, is rising steadily³.

With its 100-meter-high roof-supporting arch the stadium will alter the skyline of South Africa's second largest city. At a cost of several hundred million dollars, it will be the center of a sports city with its own railway station and beachside entertainment park.

Cape⁴ Town is also building a brand new stadium at Greenpoint between its famous beaches and Table Mountain. Eight other cities are building or refurbishing stadiums including Johannesburg, which will host the final match.

Jordaan says a major concern is keeping costs down.

"We have been prudent⁵ enough to ensure that we remain within budget. And that is a huge challenge," he said. "It requires consistent monitoring, financial discipline."

But he says escalating⁶ costs for fuel and construction material cannot be controlled and this requires strict vigilance.
　

Work continues on Durban's Moses Mabhiba Stadium

The government is also spending several billion dollars to upgrade airports, highways and other networks to transport the estimated 400,000 visitors who are to attend the event.

Suth Africa's multi-billion dollar tourism industry is also gearing up. The head of South Africa Tourism, Moeketsi Mosola, says nine million tourists came to South Africa last year and 10 million are expected this year.

With such statistics he is certain that the industry will be able to accommodate World Cup fans. Moreover, he promises them a uniquely African experience.

"You wake up in the morning in the middle of a game reserve," Mosola said. "You go for a [game] drive at four a.m. in the morning. We pick you up. We take you, we fly you into Johannesburg to watch a game at three o'clock. You are back in the middle of the bush by seven o'clock, eight, in the evening and you have a dinner in the boma [restaurant]. That is an African experience and that is what is going to make this World Cup absolutely different."

Some of the teams will be training in neighboring countries, such as Namibia and Mozambique, and these are also mobilizing to attract some of the tourism dollars.

Zimbabwe is making a major pitch to attract fans to the famous Victoria Falls. The head of its government tourism agency, Shingi Munyeza, acknowledges that his country is experiencing economic and political problems but says these will not affect visitors.

"A guest is always worried about their safety. On the safety issues we can actually be very comfortable and tell them that you will not be affected⁷ by what is going on," Munyeza said. "However, if there is some moral objection of what often happens, that as business people we are not able to address."

As kick-off approaches, Africa's always exuberant⁸ soccer fans are getting increasingly excited. Organizers acknowledge that a lot of work remains⁹ to be done but everyone here at least is confident that Africa will be ready.

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

3 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

4 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。

5 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

6 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 exuberant   

adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的

参考例句：

• Hothouse plants do not possess exuberant vitality.在温室里培养出来的东西，不会有强大的生命力。
• All those mother trees in the garden are exuberant.果园里的那些母树都长得十分茂盛。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。