VOA标准英语2015--特殊奥林匹克运动会展示运动员技巧与决心

Special Olympics Show Competitors' Skill, Determination 特殊奥林匹克运动会展示运动员技巧与决心

LOS ANGELES—

From table tennis to handball. Special Olympics athletes have given it their best, and some will take home medals.

Irish athlete Carole Catling earned a gold for table tennis, and table tennis player Olowoyuni Sunday won a gold in his division. His coach, Olawuyi Amoo, says it took practice.

“We come from Nigeria," Amoo said. "And before we came for this program, we made a provision¹ where these athletes came for five weeks to train them toward these world games. And I think this is the dividend² of the training.”

A 27-year-old Panamanian bowler³, Casandra Barletta, is here with her family. Her brother, Rafael, says she has the skill and focus to excel⁴ in her sport.

“Thankfully, she's very good at it," Rafael Barletta said.  "She has competed in a lot of competitions around the world, and also in Panama, national and globally, and she has done very well.”

But it's not all about winning. Canadian bocce coach Dona Cade says what motivates these athletes with intellectual disabilities is the thrill of competition and sense of pride.

“They've worked hard the whole year to get here, getting themselves as fit as they can," Cade said. "And it just means everything to be representing your country.”

More than 6,000 athletes from 165 countries have participated in sports from aquatics⁵ to power lifting, and this week of competition has let them show the world what they can do.

The competition wraps up Saturday, and the closing ceremony for the athletes will be held Sunday night.

1 provision   

n.供应，预备，条款[pl.]给养，口粮

参考例句：

• He made no provision against the unforeseen expenses.他没有准备意外费用。
• It is an express provision.那是一项明文条款。

2 dividend   

n.红利，股息；回报，效益

参考例句：

• The company was forced to pass its dividend.该公司被迫到期不分红。
• The first quarter dividend has been increased by nearly 4 per cent.第一季度的股息增长了近 4%。

3 bowler   

n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手

参考例句：

• The bowler judged it well,timing the ball to perfection.投球手判断准确，对球速的掌握恰到好处。
• The captain decided to take Snow off and try a slower bowler.队长决定把斯诺撤下，换一个动作慢一点的投球手试一试。

4 excel   

v.胜过，优于，杰出，善于，擅长于

参考例句：

• If your talent combines with diligence,you can excel in your pursuit.如果你把天赋与勤奋结合起来，你所追求的事业便会出类拔萃。
• He is working hard to excel his predecessors.他正努力超越他的前任。

5 aquatics   

n.水生植物，水生动物( aquatic的名词复数 )；水上运动

参考例句：

• Pasturage breed aquatics basically has pig, ox, sheep and fowl. 畜牧养殖主要有猪、牛、羊和家禽。 来自互联网
• So in English they are National Stadium and National Aquatics Center. 这两处场馆的正式名字叫做”国家体育场”和”国家游泳中心“。 来自互联网