VOA标准英语2010年-Olympic Cauldron Controversy Resolved

Vancouver Winter Games officials have made some major changes to the viewing area by the Olympic cauldron that sits on a downtown waterfront plaza¹. The changes came after a huge public outcry.

An unsightly tall, chain-link fence some 50 meters from the cauldron had made it hard for visitors in Vancouver to take good photographs.  Their complaints did not go unnoticed. 

But since the giant steel and glass cauldron sits on the ground and is next the International Broadcast Center, organizers had to find a way to maintain security and protect it from vandals.

So they not only adjusted the position of the fence, making a portion of it much closer to the cauldron, but they also made sure it had an eye-level gap about 20 centimeters tall so viewers can take unobstructed photos.

Rob MacGregor

Visitor Rob MacGregor told VOA it has made a big difference. "People want to come down and enjoy it, the scenery and everything else.  And it's a good memento² to take home with you, and you want to have it as authentic³ as possible.  So I think what they've done and the measures they've taken are really good," he said.

In addition, the rooftop of a one-story building on other side of the cauldron that was empty is now accessible for visitors to get another vantage point for viewing and taking photos of the Olympic cauldron.

Head of the Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee John Furlong believes they found the right solutions to the controversy⁴. "The goal of the organizing committee is to make people as happy as we can, to look after everybody's needs.  That's the commitment we made.  And people said, 'look, can you fix this?'  And we've gone after it as fast as we can.  We now have a solution and everyone in the city who wants to come down and take a picture, they can," he said.

Nancy Conn

Nancy Conn, visiting from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in eastern Canada, told VOA she waited in line 45 minutes for the rooftop view of the Olympic cauldron.  "It's really worthwhile.  It's gorgeous⁵ here in Vancouver.  Of course, I saw the flame for the first time in Nova Scotia, so I followed it all the way to Vancouver," she said.

Organizers hope the rest of the visitors to these Winter Games will feel the same way and go home with good memories of the Olympic cauldron.
 

1 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

2 memento   

n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西

参考例句：

• The photos will be a permanent memento of your wedding.这些照片会成为你婚礼的永久纪念。
• My friend gave me his picture as a memento before going away.我的朋友在离别前给我一张照片留作纪念品。

3 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

4 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。

5 gorgeous   

adj.华丽的，灿烂的，美丽的，宜人的，棒的

参考例句：

• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。
• What a gorgeous day it is today!今天天气多好啊！