2007年VOA标准英语-Athletic Diplomacy Between Iran, US

By Ernest Leong
Washington
27 August 2007
 

The ongoing¹ tension between the United States and Iranian governments recently spilled over into the sports arena².  Iranian kayak coach Katayoun Ashraf was fired from the Iranian National Federation³ team for bringing three teenage athletes to the U.S. to train.  They sought extra training in hopes of representing Iran in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  But now the athletes' position on the national team is in jeopardy⁴.  Yet the story of these athletes' pursuit of their dream remains⁵ an inspiring one. VOA's Ernest Leong has more.

Iranian kayak team practicing in Maryland

The Wisp summer resort in the U.S. East Coast state of Maryland offers its patrons dramatic contrasts in aquatic⁶ entertainment.  There are calm waters here on Deep Creek⁷ Lake. But slide off a ramp⁸, across the pond and under the bridge and suddenly you are paddling through churning whitewaters.

A fun way to enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon.  But these female teenage athletes did not come here just to have fun.  They came to the U.S. from Iran in late June, to learn all they could about kayaking.  At the time, they hoped to represent Iran in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Chris Weigand

The Persian kayakers traveled to the U.S. to train in whitewater conditions. Their American teacher was Chris Weigand, Director of the Front Range Paddle Association. "They arrived with no experience whatsoever⁹, and within eight days, had to race in the Junior Olympic slalom qualifier race [in Colorado].  And they ended up doing extremely well, considering the adversity they had to overcome."

It all began with an e-mail from Katayoun Ashraf, the former [Iranian] National Federation coach.  Weigand says Ashraf was looking for a way to get Iranian women to the Olympic podium in the next six years. 

Ashraf said the first step in the process was for the team to learn to conquer their fear of the rushing waters. "To use their mind in the way the body obeys their mind.  This is what your coach, one of your coach(es), did.  He helped me to change the mind of girls, from scary to brave girls, who like to be on waves."

The Iranian kayakers' newfound courage on the water caught the attention of 2004 Olympian Brett Heyl.  "I'm really impressed by how fearless they seem.  They're out on some big water, and they never let up."

On this day, Weigand spent time reviewing some basics on the calm waters of Deep Creek Lake before taking the team on the whitewater course. 

Shadi Kalantar was one of the athletes in training.  "It's like the stream of life.  You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.  You just keep going.  You have to trust the water."

While in the U.S., Coach Ashraf expressed a vision that went beyond competition. "My aim in coming to the U.S. goes beyond just learning kayaking techniques.  It is the relationship between humans all over the world.  To show, when people help each other, we can make greater progress."

The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" - Latin for "swifter, higher, stronger."  While the teenagers may not be able to fulfill¹⁰ their dreams of Olympic glory, their hard work and determination have shown they can live up to the highest standards of the Olympic games.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

7 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

8 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

9 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

10 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。