VOA标准英语2013--US, Iran Go to the Mat for Olympic Wrestling

 

US, Iran Go to the Mat for Olympic Wrestling

World Championship wrestling in Tehran pits the United States against Iran. But the match is about more than victory for one side or the other. For the wrestlers and their coaches, it is the start of a shared struggle.

"I would like to invite you to New York city on May 16," said Rich Bender of USA Wrestling. To which Mohammad Aliabadi of the Iranian National Olympic Committee answered, "I would like to visit New York City."

The reason for the U.S. invitation for a show of solidarity¹ with Iran? The International Olympic Committee's announcement this month that it plans to drop wrestling as an Olympic sport for the 2020 Summer Games.

It's a decision that was greeted with dismay² in wrestling-crazy Iran and by fans and officials in the U.S. 

So when the U.S. team arrived in Tehran this week for the World Championships, Mitch Hull³ with the U.S. national wrestling team, says the solution seemed simple - work together.

"Politically, we're not always on the same page with Iran, or politically with Russia, but in wrestling there's no doubt that we are all together in this effort, and we consider Iran one of our strongest allies⁴ in the sport of wrestling," he said.

For now, officials and wrestlers from both countries are optimistic this partnership⁵ can save wrestling's place in the Olympic Games. Wrestling will vie with seven other sports to try to gain entry in the 2020 Olympics.

"We have great confidence that we can work with the Iranian wrestling federation⁶, the Iranian wrestlers and, really, the Iranian people to show the world that, no matter what's happening politically, we have the same goal and the same belief and passion about the sport of wrestling," said Hull.

The U.S. and Iran appear to be grappling together to save the sport they love. 

1 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。

2 dismay   

n.灰心，沮丧，惊愕；vt.使沮丧，使惊愕

参考例句：

• The enemy retreated in perfect dismay.敌人沮丧地退去。
• I am filled with dismay at the news.我对这个消息极为震惊。

3 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

4 allies   

联盟国，同盟者； 同盟国，同盟者( ally的名词复数 )； 支持者； 盟军

参考例句：

• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。
• A number of the United States' allies had urged him not to take a hasty decision. 美国的一些盟友已力劝他不要急于作决定。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 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。