2006年VOA标准英语-Bosnian Orphans Visit the Olympics

By Brian Padden
Sistriere, Italy
24 February 2006
 
watch report on Orphans¹

The Olympic spirit can reach some surprising places and people. It has touched a group of under-privileged children from the former Yugoslavia.  The children were treated to a special day of watching the games and meeting a past Olympic great.

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The group prepares to board their bus for another stop on their special journey   
  

After traveling for two days by bus, a group of 45 children, including 15 Bosnian orphans, arrived in Sistriere, Italy to watch the Olympic Giant Slalom Ski competition.  This trip was the idea of Jure Franko who won the silver medal in this event in the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, which was then part of Yugoslavia.

 

 
Jure Franko won a silver Olympic medal in 1984 
  

"I came up with the idea when Slovenians asked me to be the first one to receive the Olympic torch, when it crossed from Italy to Slovenia,” he said. “I felt that Olympic spirit should be broadened², so I came up with the idea to take children from Sarajevo, Bosnia,  Gorizia, Italy and Nova Gorica, Slovenia,  to Turin to watch men's giant slalom, which was my discipline 22 years ago."

Trip leader Sandra Kasalo-Fazlic says it has been a hectic³ but worthwhile adventure.

 
This gold medalist lives in an orphanage⁴ in Sarajevo
  
"Children from Sarajevo met with children from Italy and Slovenia and traveled together to Turin. There they watched the giant slalom race, that is a discipline in which Jure Franko won silver at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo in 1984. It was just amazing,” she told us. “Then, they met Alberto Tomba at the Italian House, talked with him and got his autographs. Now, they are returning to Sarajevo."

And while some of the children seem exhausted⁵, most are thrilled with the experience.   

Neira Halilovic expects to be a winner at a future Olympics   
  
"My name is Neira Halilovic, I am 10-years-old and in the fourth grade,” one non-shy girl said. “I am very glad to have had a chance to come to Turin and see our and other skiers.  When I grow up, I will be better then Anja Paerson and Janica Kostelic.

A boy said, "I am having good time here and would like to come back. I come from Tuzla and currently⁶ I live in an orphanage in Sarajevo, and I will live there until high school. Jure Franko invited me to go to Turin."

But it is only a brief visit.  After traveling for two days to get to the Olympics, then spending one day watching the action, they immediately file back on the bus and head for home again. 

1 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

2 broadened   

使…变宽，扩展( broaden的过去式和过去分词 )； 增长（经验、知识等）

参考例句：

• The advertisements of costume in Paris broadened his outlook. 巴黎的服装广告使他大开眼界。
• This broadened my vision and knowledge. 这件事使我打开了眼界，增长了知识。

3 hectic   

adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的

参考例句：

• I spent a very hectic Sunday.我度过了一个忙乱的星期天。
• The two days we spent there were enjoyable but hectic.我们在那里度过的两天愉快但闹哄哄的。

4 orphanage   

n.孤儿院

参考例句：

• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage.他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。
• They gave the proceeds of the sale to the orphanage.他们把销售的收入给了这家孤儿院。

5 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

6 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。