VOA标准英语2008年-London Looks Ahead to Next Summer Olympics in 2

Triumphantly¹ returning home after their best medal total in a century, British athletes and government officials turn their attention now to the next summer games in four years in London. After Beijing bid farewell to the 2008 Olympics, celebrations broke out in Britain to usher² in London's turn to host. For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from the British capital.
　
Royal Air Force Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace as crowds applaud during a live London 2012 concert in central London, 24 Aug 2008

While the world ponders the legacy³ of the Beijing games, the Olympic flag has been handed over to London where the hard work is underway in preparation for the 2012 summer games.

London has been here before. It hosted the games in 1908 and in 1948, but London today is a very different city than the one that last hosted the Olympics in the austere⁴ years right after the end of World War two.

In Beijing, Britain produced its best results in a century, finishing four overall on the table with 47 medals, including 19 golds.

Flying into London's Heathrow Airport, Team Great Britain was greeted with cheers. Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those welcoming home the country's olympic stars.

Among those on the special flight was the chairman of the London organizing committee and a former 1,500-meter Olympic gold winner, Sebastian Coe. He says Beijing as a venue⁵ and the performance of the British team there provides a great springboard for the upcoming London games.

"Fantastic. Team G.B. [Great Britain] have just provided us with the most extraordinary platform," he said. "It is one we could not have possibly imagined when we came here and it is just the opportunity just to drive the project for us but take nothing away from those guys who just performed way beyond what I think any of us really expected."

Greeting her fellow British athletes homes was Nicole Cooke who captured the country's first gold medal in Beijing in the Women's cycling road race. She is also excited about the London games.

"Now it is not just a case of the athletes and the sporting part, but it is we are going to host it," she said. "So, there is so much more to do and I think it is something, we have got the momentum⁶ now and I think the public really is behind it now, so, let us go forward. I think, 'Yeah, we have got a perfect opportunity."

On Sunday, more than 400 flags were raised across Britain to mark the countdown to the 2012 games. Street parties as well broke out. The biggest party was staged just outside of Buckingham Palace, where 40,000 showed up for a pop concert.

London Mayor Boris Johnson promises a great games in four years that he says will draw on the wit, flair⁷, imagination and ingenuity⁸ of the British people.

1 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

2 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

3 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

4 austere   

adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的

参考例句：

• His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。
• The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。

5 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

6 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

7 flair   

n.天赋，本领，才华；洞察力

参考例句：

• His business skill complements her flair for design.他的经营技巧和她的设计才能相辅相成。
• He had a natural flair for business.他有做生意的天分。

8 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。