美国国家公共电台 NPR--Morocco's World Cup success energizes Arab fans

Morocco's World Cup success energizes¹ Arab fans

Transcript²

Many soccer fans are catching³ their breath after a string of exciting World Cup matches. Especially Tuesday, when Morocco became the first Arab nation to make it to the World Cup quarterfinals.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The World Cup in Qatar has paused for a couple of days, which helps the players and maybe also fans who get a break after a string of exciting matches, especially on Tuesday, when Morocco became the first Arab nation to make it to a World Cup quarterfinals. NPR's Tom Goldman reports from Doha.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE⁴: Excitement among Arab fans at this first Middle East World Cup has been building from the start. There was the early jolt⁵ of Saudi Arabia's stunning⁶ win over soccer royalty⁷ Argentina. Then, as the Saudis faded, Morocco took the baton⁸ - finished first in its group and, in Tuesday's knockout round, knocked out Spain, ranked seventh in the world. It pushed the Atlas⁹ Lions into uncharted territory - the quarterfinals. Last night, the roaring and horn-honking had subsided¹⁰ in Doha but not the pride. In the city's famous labyrinthine¹¹ market Souq Waqif, 25-year-old Saudi Faisal al-Kattabi (ph) was wrapped in a red Moroccan flag.

FAISAL AL-KATTABI: Morocco is - the country's Arabic, and Tunisian is Arabic and Saudi Arabic. And we support us. We are all together.

GOLDMAN: Bilal Lkhawaja, a Palestinian Jordanian, was wandering the Souq with his brother and their 12-year-old sons. The four of them were wearing Team Morocco T-shirts and flags. Lkhawaja said the outpouring of pride stems in part from having much of the world usually look at them, sporting and otherwise, as less capable because they're from Arab countries. He says World Cup success helps battle those misperceptions.

BILAL LKHAWAJA: Tell me, do you know or do you hear Arab team get World Cup? No. Did you know the Arab Team get four - gold or silver or bronze? No. So that's why we try to change this story through all the Arab team.

GOLDMAN: As they posed for a photo, they unfurled a Palestinian flag, a flag that's been ubiquitous at this World Cup in the stands and on the field. A jubilant Moroccan team displayed it after the win over Spain. FIFA, soccer's international governing body, has not officially answered questions about what might appear to be a double standard. Those wearing rainbow colors to support LGBTQ communities or sporting messages criticizing Iran's government have met resistance by World Cup organizers. Those carrying the Palestinian flag, which some interpret as a similar type of political statement, have not. Lkhawaja simply says he's very happy it's happening, bringing attention, at this World Cup, to Palestinians' quest for rights and statehood and, perhaps, he said, the next World Cup, played in North America.

LKHAWAJA: This is good. Maybe next time American ask exactly what's this? Next time, maybe Mexico.

GOLDMAN: Lkhawaja repeatedly said he didn't want to get into politics, but it's been impossible at this Middle East World Cup to ignore one of the region's most intractable political issues - Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories. It's played out largely on social media, with Israeli reporters covering the tournament, posting videos of them being rebuffed by Arab fans.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: We are from Israel.

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Huh?

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Israel.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Israel?

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Hey, new friends, what? We have peace.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Palestinian.

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: But we have peace, huh? Huh? Peace.

GOLDMAN: It's a popular assumption that while governments stoke hostility¹², people get along. In Doha, though, it's been the opposite. Despite Israel signing new agreements with Arab countries, including Morocco, a well of mistrust is evident at this World Cup, where the slogan is football unites the world.

Tom Goldman, NPR News, Doha.

1 energizes   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的第三人称单数 )；使通电

参考例句：

• However, heating energizes the vibrational, rotational, and electronic motions all at once. 但是，加热会一下子把振动、转动和电子运动统统加强。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
• Purpose always produces passion. Nothing energizes like a clear purpose. 目的往往会带来热忱，没有任何东西比清晰的目的更有动力。 来自互联网

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 jolt   

v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸

参考例句：

• We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
• They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.他们拼命地干着，担心余震可能会使房子再次受到震动。

6 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

7 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

8 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

9 atlas   

n.地图册，图表集

参考例句：

• He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
• The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。

10 subsided   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后，部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚， 暴风雨已经过去，四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 labyrinthine   

adj.如迷宫的；复杂的

参考例句：

• His mind slid away into the labyrinthine world of doublethink.他的思绪，早滑进到双重思想迷宫般的世界里去。
• The streets of the Old City are narrow and labyrinthine.老城区的街道狭促曲折，好似迷宫一般。

12 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。