VOA标准英语2014--World Cup Cities Say Climate Change Is Big Part of Planning

 

World Cup Cities Say Climate Change Is Big Part of Planning 

JOHANNESBURG — The World Cup soccer tournament is getting more and more carbon-heavy, with FIFA estimating that the 2014 event in Brazil will dump 2.72 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere -- one million more tons than South Africa’s 2010 World Cup. Officials from both sides of the globe weigh in how they have incorporated climate change concerns into the World  Cup.

Brazil’s tourism board says it is expecting tourists to spend $10.4 billion during this year’s World Cup. That cash injection, however, will take its toll¹ on the environment.

The majority of the heat-trapping gas will come from air travel as spectators and teams fly around the world’s fifth-biggest country in order to get to the 12 different stadiums where the 64 World Cup matches will be played.   

At a meeting in Johannesburg this month, mayors from some of the world's megacities met to discuss the unique challenges -- especially climate change -- that urban areas face. The mayor of the World Cup host city of Curitiba told VOA that green planning was part of its preparations for the event.

Gustavo Fruet also said he’s looked to the last host city, Johannesburg, for lessons. “There were problems with funding, and a lack of clarity in city planning. There should be a legacy² for the city and not just for an event. What we see as a positive [from Johannesburg] is that it gives visibility to the country, visibility to the city and it allowed an increase, above all, in tourism and prepared people to provide better service. So for me this is the best achievement, the great legacy -- to show quality, efficiency, and above all joy in receiving foreigners,” he said.

Johannesburg mayor Mpho Parks Tau said he believes mayors are paying attention to the issue of climate change and the World Cup. "That would help us elevate the work that we do as cities in relation to climate change. And we’ve been able to share with them our best practices in relation to energy, in relation to transportation, and other practices that we introduced in Johannesburg.”

Fruet also offered his guess as to who might take the FIFA World Cup Trophy³ this year. “I’m hoping Brazil, of course!" he said with a laugh.

Organizers are learning that winning the gold trophy is only part of the victory. Keeping the event green has become part of the triumph.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。