VOA标准英语2016--卡塔尔否认世界杯腐败

Qatar Denies World Cup Corruption¹ 卡塔尔否认世界杯腐败

LONDON—

The head of Qatar’s organizing committee for the 2022 World Cup has insisted that the bid was completely clean – despite the widespread corruption at the sport’s world governing body FIFA during the bidding process in 2010.

Qatar is spending around $10 billion on new stadiums and up to $200 billion on improving infrastructure² ahead of the 2022 World Cup, making it the most expensive tournament ever.

In a speech at London’s Chatham House Thursday, the Secretary-General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme³ Committee, Hassan Al-Thawadi, said the cost would be worthwhile.

“The passion for football runs through the veins⁴ of our society. And a desire to demonstrate to the rest of the world that our region could be, and deserves to be, in the headlines for reasons other than conflict and strife,” he said.

FIFA scandal 

The scandals that have engulfed⁵ football’s World governing body FIFA led to the resignation and prosecution⁶ of many of the officials who voted for Qatar’s bid.

FIFA appointed American lawyer Michael Garcia to investigate the allegations in 2012. He described ‘serious and wide-ranging issues with the bidding and selection process,’ before quitting to protest FIFA’s handling of his report in 2014.

A summary of the investigation⁷ led by a German judge largely cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing.  Al-Thawadi denied there was any corruption involved in Qatar’s winning bid.

“We stuck to the rules. And more importantly when the investigation happened with Michael Garcia after the bid, we cooperated fully⁸ out of a sense of vindication⁹ and out of a sense of confidence at the cleanliness of our bid,” said Al-Thawadi.

Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Qatar of abusing the rights of the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers building the World Cup venues¹⁰.

Qatar’s so-called ‘kafala’ or sponsorship system ties the legal status of migrant workers to their employer. Al-Thawadi insisted the government is committed to reforming workers’ rights.

“Of most importance is the new law that was signed by His Highness the Emir in October 2015, abolishing the ‘kafala’ system and replacing it with a contractual agreement between employer and employee,” he said.

Unconvinced 

Amnesty International’s James Lynch, who listened to the speech, said the assurances were not convincing.

“Where we disagree is about the speed of reform. He says that the new sponsorship law reform is a really big deal that will change the lives of workers. We are much more skeptical¹¹ about that. We think that it is the kafala system in all but name, and it is adjusted rather than really reformed,” Lynch told VOA.

Human rights groups are also calling for an investigation into the high number of heart attacks among some migrant workers – which they believe could be related to the extreme heat.

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

2 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。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 vindication   

n.洗冤，证实

参考例句：

• There is much to be said in vindication of his claim.有很多理由可以提出来为他的要求作辩护。
• The result was a vindication of all our efforts.这一结果表明我们的一切努力是必要的。

10 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

11 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。