2006年VOA标准英语-FIFA President Says Germany World Cup Will

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
12 April 2006

The President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter says he is confident Germany has taken all measures needed to ensure a safe, clean and entertaining World Cup. He says the games will kick off on June 9 with a match between Germany and Costa Rica.

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Joseph Blatter    
  

In less than two months from now, FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, says the World Cup, for one month, will allow people to forget the misery¹ of the world.

Blatter is very upbeat about the games. He says he has no concerns about security or the possibility of a terrorist attack. Nor is he worried about safety of the 12 German football stadiums that will be used.

He says he personally intervened to make sure the Olympic stadium in Berlin posed no dangers.

"Now, they have prepared so many bridges that practically, the people they can escape in front, as it had not been foreseen at the beginning," he said. "But it has been foreseen that the people could escape climbing up. And, this is not good because when there is, whatever it could be, a panic, then you run down and you do not run up. But, now details have been settled with the security in the stadium." 

Workers test automatic emergency bridge for evacuation leading over reporter's ditch at Olympic stadium in Berlin    
  
Blatter says there, no doubt, will be some people who will want to disturb the World Cup. But, he says most visitors want peaceful games and he is sure hooliganism will be kept to a minimum.

For example, he says known rabble-rousers from Great Britain will not be allowed to enter Germany.

"The security measures in Germany, they have taken a decision, a political decision that in cases of necessity, the Schengen treaty could not be observed," he explained. "It means that everybody has to present a passport when traveling in Europe."

The lead-up to the World Cup has been mired² in controversy³. Besides concerns for safety, questions have been raised about doping and widespread racism⁴ among players and within football clubs.

To allay⁵ these concerns, Blatter says FIFA has a very tough policy against doping and notes that last year, the organization conducted 22,000 doping controls around the world. He says FIFA has put in place a number of sanctions against players found guilty of racism.

The FIFA president says he is looking forward to the games in Germany, but admits he is already thinking about the 2010 World Cup that will be held in South Africa. He says he is pleased to note that all the people who said Africa would be a financial disaster for the World Cup have been proven wrong.

"The contracts we have already signed for 2010, they are higher than the contracts for 2006 in Germany ... about 25 percent," he noted⁶. "And, this means that the football is good, the football is an exceptionally good product and we have to take care about this product . The market trusts Africa and this is important. The market trusts Africa. They do not know who is going to play in Africa because the qualification is not made."

Germany has invested more than $1.5 billion to make the 12 stadiums fit for the World Cup. It expects between 200,000 and 400,000 people to attend the games. Blatter says more than 60 percent of the tickets on sale will be available for ordinary people.

1 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

2 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

5 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。