Pandemic May Cancel Popular Dutch Ice-Skating Event

 

The Netherlands is currently¹ experiencing a deep winter freeze. The extremely cold temperatures have led many Dutch people to take part in a favorite winter activity –- ice-skating on frozen² canals and other waterways.

This popular outdoor activity is giving people a welcome break from life in a pandemic. However, the excitement has also created problems for officials trying to enforce³ social distancing rules.

Ice-skating is a national winter obsession⁴ in the Netherlands. The country is made up of many canals, rivers, and lakes. Skaters of all ages happily welcome the Arctic⁵ conditions that permit them to safely skate over these waterways.

In recent years, Dutch speed-skaters have won many major international races – including at the Olympic Games. These successes have only added to the national obsession.

The 11 Cities Tour is a popular long-distance ice-skating race. When the weather is cold enough, the event is held in the northern part of the country, in an area called Friesland.

However, the country continues to be under stay-at-home orders to control the spread of the new coronavirus. So, this year the famous race may not happen.

The website Holland.com explains the history of the race. In 1890, a group of about a hundred men and women created a special challenge -- ice-skating along the frozen waterways to all Frisian cities in one day. And that is how a new ice-skating tradition began.

However, for the event to happen, the temperatures need to be low enough for long enough. Because of this, the 11 Cities Tour has only taken place 15 times since 1890.

The last time it happened was in 1997. An estimated⁶ two million people came to Friesland to watch thousands of skaters take part. Reporters came from all over the world to cover the event.

Last month, the group that organizes the 11 Cities Tour announced that "under the current coronavirus measures, it is not possible to organize" the popular national event.

On February 9, the chairman of the group poured more cold water on people's hopes. In other words, he explained why it was extremely unlikely⁷ that the event could be held this year.

Chairman Wiebe Wieling described the large event to national broadcaster NOS. "We're talking about a tour with 1 (to) 1.5 million spectators," about 25,000 skaters and thousands of volunteers. Half of the Netherlands, he said, will be on the road.

"Every right-thinking person," he added, "will realize that something like that is not possible" during the pandemic.

On February 8, Dutch Prime⁹ Minister Mark Rutte commented on the issue. He said skating officials could consider permitting races on natural ice if the country's top 120 racers enter a coronavirus bubble¹⁰. But he, too, said that producing an event with such a large number of people was unlikely to happen, even if it is outdoors.

Still, Rutte said Dutch people should enjoy the wintry conditions while they last.

"Enjoy this beautiful weather and the ice," Rutte said. "But do that within the COVID-19 rules."

The country's many canals are expected to soon be frozen solid and be safe enough for people to skate on. Officials in Amsterdam have closed locks and banned boats on parts of the city's ring of canals. This will give them a better chance of freezing over.

However, Amsterdam city officials also reminded skaters to follow social distancing rules and other coronavirus pandemic measures. They said pandemic rules for public places also need to be followed on the ice.

Words in This Story

ice-skate (show video) – v. to slide or glide¹¹ along on ice

canal – n. an artificial¹² waterway for boats or for irrigation of land

excitement – n. a feeling of eager enthusiasm¹³ and interest

obsession – n. an activity that someone is very interested in or spends a lot of time doing

tour – n. a journey through the different parts of a country, region¹⁴, etc.

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do

pour cold water on something to be not supportive or negative about a plan or suggestion

spectator⁸ – n. one who looks on or watches

lock (water management) – n. an enclosure¹⁵ (as in a canal) with gates at each end used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from level to level

coronavirus bubble – n. A "bubble" is an unofficial term used to describe the cluster¹⁶ of people outside your household with whom you feel comfortable spending time during the pandemic.

1 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

2 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

3 enforce   

vt.实施，执行；强制，强迫；加强，坚持

参考例句：

• You have no right to enforce your own views on me.你无权把你自己的观点强加给我。
• They tried to enforce agreement with their plans.他们企图迫使人们同意他们的计划。

4 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

5 Arctic   

adj.北极的；n.北极

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• The sort of animal lived in the Arctic Circle.这种动物生活在北极圈里。

6 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

7 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。

8 spectator   

n.观众，目击者，旁观者

参考例句：

• A spectator threw the ball back to the players.一个观众把球掷回给球员。
• He was content to stand by as an impassive spectator.他满足于站在旁边做一个冷漠的旁观者。

9 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

10 bubble   

n.泡，水泡，气泡；泡影，妄想；v.(使)起泡

参考例句：

• The water begins to bubble.水开始起泡了。
• Their hopes of success have burst like a bubble.他们成功的希望已经成了泡影。

11 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

12 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

13 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。

14 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。

15 enclosure   

n.围绕，圈地，围场，围墙，附件，封入物

参考例句：

• We were led to a fenced enclosure.我们被带到一处用篱笆围住的场地。
• I received your enclosure with gratitude.附件收到，十分感谢。

16 cluster   

n.串，簇，群，组；vi.群集，丛生；vt.集中

参考例句：

• She held a cluster of flowers in her arms.她抱着一束鲜花。
• A cluster of tourists was surrounded in the hill.一群游客被困在了山中。