VOA标准英语2010年-Death of Olympics Luge Racer Mars Open

Bengt Walden of the United States competes during a men's singles luge training run at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, 13 Feb. 2010

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As the first day of competition at the Winter Olympics got underway Saturday in Vancouver, Canada, the luge track was foremost on the minds of many, after the death of an athlete in practice at the Whistler venue¹. 

The icy luge track at Whistler, 130 kilometers from Vancouver, was reopened for training Saturday, a day after 21-year-old Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia died in a practice run when his sled went off the track and he hit a metal pole.

For safety reasons, international luge officials decided² the start of all Olympic luge events will begin farther down the track.

That should result in a 10-percent reduction in the maximum speed.  International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams defended the Whistler sliding venue.

"We're totally convinced that the sliding center is very, very safe," he said. "There have been 5,000 runs on that run [track].  And as far as I understand from the safety issues, from one of the better words - I think the technical term is "crash ratio" - I think is very good for that sliding center."

Investigations³ by the regional coroner, police, and the International Luge Federation⁴ (FIL) concluded it was a slider error, and there was no indication the tragedy was caused by track deficiencies.

But Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told reporters here he rejected that assessment⁵, saying even before the Olympics began there was talk about potential danger at the fast Whistler track.

"I don't claim to know all the technical details, but one thing I know for sure, is that no sports mistake is supposed to lead to a death, no sports mistake is supposed to be fatal," he said.

Mr. Saakashvili added that if this incident can lead to better safety and improved response to people expressing concerns, then maybe the death of his countryman is not in vain. He also said it was right for all Georgian Olympic athletes to go forward with their events.

"The Olympic movement is all about perseverance," he said.  "It's all about unbroken spirit.  It's about future and strength.  And it's about no matter what the tragedies, it's about thinking about the future and carrying on."

One of the Georgian athletes who will carry on is figure skater Omar Japaridze, who sat alongside Mr. Saakashvili at the packed news conference in Vancouver.

"Of course we all are in a big shock," he said. "And we are in the lowest, but at the same the highest, point of our careers.  Because of the compassion⁶ and the solidarity⁷ that we felt from everyone around us, despite this tragic⁸ event our team will carry on with the dream of Nodar and compete in his honor."

And Georgian President Saakashvili said after these Olympics they are thinking about building a new track named after Nodar Kumaritashvili in his hometown.
 

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

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 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

4 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

7 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

8 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。