VOA标准英语2012--Countdown to Summer Olympic Games Begins

Countdown to Summer Olympic Games Begins

 

A hundred days until London hosts the Olympic Games. A hundred days until the starting gun fires on three weeks of sporting agony and ecstasy¹. But is London ready?

"It signifies, first of all, still an extraordinary amount of work still to do, but I think 100 days, it means something to people," noted² two time Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012. "When you're talking about seven years, six years, five years, four years, but actually when you're really talking about days, and we're talking 12 Wednesdays or something, I mean it really is, it's very close.

The Olympic Park is complete, barring the final furnishings.

Synchronized³ swimmers are already practicing in the pools. The striking Aquatic⁴ Center is ready for the likes of American swimmer Michael Phelps, who will try to build on his record 14 Olympic golds. 

Beneath the sweeping⁵ curve of the Velodrome roof, Britain’s cycling stars are already charging round the track.

Beyond east London’s Olympic village, other venues⁶ are taking shape - like the beach volleyball court in the shadow of Parliament. 

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge gave his verdict to Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron after visiting the venues.

“There is already, before the Games begin, a great legacy⁷ in east London, a great legacy of the sports venues and this is a tangible⁸ legacy. To conclude, prime minister, we are a happy International Olympic Committee. Thank you very much,” Rogge said. 

But amid the anticipation⁹, there are murmurs¹⁰ of discontent. On two separate days this week, immigration lines at Heathrow, London’s main airport, reached well over 90 minutes. Travelers posted photos and vented¹¹ their anger on the Internet. 

An oversight¹² committee of MPs warns that Olympic visitors could face being held on board aircraft or stuck in lengthy¹³ immigration lines. The government insists it will be ready. A temporary terminal has been built especially for Olympic competitors. 

Once through the airport, there are fears travelers could face gridlock on London’s roads and subways during the Games. 

There are concerns, too, over security. 

In recent weeks anti-terror squads¹⁴ have been practicing on the streets, in the skies and underground. In a late addition, the ministry¹⁵ of defense¹⁶ is providing 13,500 soldiers for the Games. Total security staff numbers are now estimated at 23,700. The security budget has doubled to $882 million. Security analysts¹⁷ like David Rubens are voicing fears that London could be on lockdown.

“It’s very difficult to maintain the balance between an open and welcoming event and security management," Rubens said. "It’s different from what happened in Vancouver, it’s certainly different from what happened in Beijing. And the people responsible will be lying awake at night trying to wonder whether they’ve got that balance right, and the answer is, if it goes wrong, then you got it wrong.”

That answer will be known in 100 days. 

For London, for the competitors, for the 300,000 expected visitors - the countdown is on.

1 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

2 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。

3 synchronized   

同步的

参考例句：

• Do not use the synchronized keyword in Managed Objects. 不要在管理对象上使用synchronized关键字。 来自互联网
• The timing of the gun was precisely synchronized with the turning of the plane's propeller. 风门的调速与飞机螺旋桨的转动精确同步。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

6 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

9 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

10 murmurs   

n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕

参考例句：

• They spoke in low murmurs. 他们低声说着话。 来自辞典例句
• They are more superficial, more distinctly heard than murmurs. 它们听起来比心脏杂音更为浅表而清楚。 来自辞典例句

11 vented   

表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He vented his frustration on his wife. 他受到挫折却把气发泄到妻子身上。
• He vented his anger on his secretary. 他朝秘书发泄怒气。

12 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

13 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

14 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句

15 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

16 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

17 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。