VOA标准英语2008年-Sydney Targets Racist Cricket Fans

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
03 January 2008

A crackdown on racist¹ abuse by unruly Australian cricket fans has begun in Sydney. After Indian supporters complained of "offensive and ugly" chants during a test match in Melbourne just after Christmas, officials at the Sydney Cricket Ground have promised "zero tolerance²" towards those who transgress³ the rules during the rest of the four-match series. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

 

Racial abuse of opposing players and supporters by Australian cricket fans is not widespread, but it occurs more than the cricket authorities here would like. South Africa complained of such treatment last year, and black cricketers have at times endured the indignity⁴ of having bananas thrown at them by spectators.

The authorities here in Sydney are determined⁵ to crack down on the bigots.

When the second of four test matches between Australia and India began Wednesday, restrictions⁶ were placed on the sale of full-strength beer, and undercover police officers are sitting in the grandstands along with an army of security guards. Their colleagues are monitoring the crowd of about 40,000 spectators with closed-circuit television cameras.

Fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground are also being urged to 'dob in a yob.' That is Aussie English for informing officials via text messages about any abuse they witness.

Some supporters - including this Australian-born Indian - say racist abuse at the cricket is a problem, but a small one.

"Yep, it happens from time to time - maybe once or twice," he said. "Few people say things like 'go back home' and 'what are you doing here if you don't support Australia'. No, you just laugh it off. Give something back."

A white Australian fan, however, maintains that the chants are only good-natured ribbing.

"People from outside might perceive Australians as racist, but it's just the Australian way to make fun of somebody, you know. It's not because we don't like them because of skin color or anything, it's just because we make fun of everybody. I make fun of myself. I'm an idiot, man. I don't care as long as someone else calls me that in good spirit, I don't mind, you know," said the fan.

Not everyone believes that. A television advertising⁷ campaign is urging fans to behave responsibly. Fines and life bans from cricket grounds could be imposed on those do not.

Officials here are especially worried that the Indian team might be taunted⁸ by the crowd. Black Australian player Andrew Symonds was subjected to racial epithets⁹ by Indian supporters during a recent match in Mumbai.

1 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

2 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

3 transgress   

vt.违反，逾越

参考例句：

• Your words must't transgress the local laws .你的言辞不能违反当地法律。
• No one is permitted to have privileges to transgress the law. 不允许任何人有超越法律的特权。

4 indignity   

n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑

参考例句：

• For more than a year we have suffered the indignity.在一年多的时间里,我们丢尽了丑。
• She was subjected to indignity and humiliation.她受到侮辱和羞辱。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

8 taunted   

嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落

参考例句：

• The other kids continually taunted him about his size. 其他孩子不断地耻笑他的个头儿。
• Some of the girls taunted her about her weight. 有些女孩子笑她胖。

9 epithets   

n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He insulted me, using rude epithets. 他用粗话诅咒我。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He cursed me, using a lot of rude epithets. 他用上许多粗鲁的修饰词来诅咒我。 来自辞典例句