新西兰英语 48 Olympic Games

　　The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was a most exciting event. It was full of breath-taking surprises like fireworks, and the opening welcome by 2008 Chinese drummers. Then there were ‘fairies’ floating on wires, a giant spinning globe, children in costumes representing 56 Chinese ethnicities and moving blocks representing Chinese writing. The way the blocks moved looked like they were operated by machines. However, at the end of this part, out popped 2,000 Chinese performers.
The ceremony showed some of Chinese history and inventions – the invention of fireworks, paper and writing, and the beautiful costumes made from silk.
The grand final was the lighting¹ of the Olympic flame. A former Olympic gymnast, Li Ning, held on by two wires, was lifted to the top of the stadium, where he seemed to run around the top while carrying the torch.
About 22,000 people took part in the ceremony, which was directed by the famous film director, Zhang Yimou. 15,000 costumes were used and 43,000 fireworks were lit. There were 90,000 spectators² and 80 invited heads of states from many countries including the American President Bush.
After the performances the athletes marched into the stadium, beginning with the host of the last Olympics, Greece, and ending with the host of the 2008 Olympics, China. Over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries will compete in the Games but not all of them marched, especially those who were competing the next day. New Zealand was proud to have the rower, Mahe Drysdale, to carry the flag.
It was surprising to realise that China uses a different alphabet system to ours. The Australian team, which is usually near the beginning of the alphabet, came into the stadium second to last and New Zealand was 189th.
A Chinese athlete, representing all the athletes, read the Olympic oath³:
“In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding⁴ by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship⁵, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams”.

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 spectators   

n.观众，旁观者( spectator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The spectators were wilting visibly in the hot sun. 看得出观众在炎热的阳光下快支撑不住了。
• The policemen asked the spectators to stand well back. 警察要求旁观者靠后站。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 oath   

n.誓言，誓约，咒骂，诅咒语

参考例句：

• They swore an oath to carry out their duties faithfully.他们宣誓忠实履行自己的职责。
• They swore an oath of loyalty to the country.他们宣誓要报效祖国。

4 abiding   

adj.永久的，持久的，不变的

参考例句：

• He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
• He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。

5 sportsmanship   

n.体育道德

参考例句：

• We identify sportsmanship with good character. 我们认为体育道德与良好品质是一致的。
• He told Shane that they were going to learn about good sportsmanship. 他告诉夏恩他们要来学学何谓良好的运动家精神。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年5月号