环球英语 — 198：Olympic Hopefuls

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
The Olympic Games – Beijing, China. They are almost here! Competing at the Olympic Games is the dream of every sports person. It is a time when people from even the smallest countries can take part. It is a chance to show off amazing physical strength and skill. And it is a place where people can demonstrate³ the main idea of the Olympic organization: “Faster, Higher, Stronger” – trying to reach the perfect physical performance. This will be more difficult for some people than for others. Today’s Spotlight is on one young man and one young woman who hope to achieve their Olympic dreams. But these two people have had to rise above extreme difficulty, even just to compete.
Voice 2
Natalie du Toit and Oscar Pistorius are both from South Africa. They are both top sports people. Natalie is a swimmer. And Oscar is a runner. But they also share something else in common – they are both physically⁴ disabled. Marina Santee and Ryan Geerstma tell us more:
Voice 3
Natalie de Toit was a very gifted swimmer. But in 2001, she was involved in a road accident. A car hit her. And Natalie’s left leg was badly crushed⁵. Doctors had to cut through her knee and remove the lower part of her leg. People thought that this would stop Natalie from swimming. But Natalie had other ideas. And, as soon as she could, she returned to the swimming pool. Since that time, Natalie has been swimming with part of her left leg missing⁶. She does not use a false leg to help her. And she has managed to fight her way back up to the top level of competition – swimming against women who have two complete legs!
Voice 4
Oscar Pistorius also has part of his left leg missing – and part of his right leg too! Oscar was born with some bones missing from his legs. This meant that his legs could not develop in the right way. Doctors advised his parents that removing the lower parts of his legs would help the other leg bones to grow. Oscar was only one year old when doctors operated on him. And since that time, he has used false legs for walking and playing sport. You may have heard more of Oscar’s story in a previous Spotlight programme called, “Bladerunner”.
Oscar has always loved playing sport. When he was younger, he dreamed of playing rugby for a top South African team. But a knee injury suddenly ended those hopes. It was then that he started to run. He used a special kind false running leg called a blade⁷. And soon, people saw that Oscar had the natural ability to be a great runner. He beat other runners with the same physical condition as himself. And, he even managed to beat runners with whole, healthy legs.
Voice 1
Both Natalie and Oscar dream of being the best in the world at their sport. And for them, this means competing against the best swimmers and runners. This summer, Natalie and Oscar will compete in the Paralympic Games. These games are for disabled sports people. And they take place three weeks after the Olympic Games. Both Natalie and Oscar expect to win their races at the Paralympics. However, they want more. Natalie and Oscar also want to compete against able–bodied sports people! And both have asked the world sporting authorities⁸ to permit them to compete in the Olympics as well.
Voice 2
There is good news for Natalie! Her Olympic dream is about to come true! She does not use any aids to help her swim. So, the authorities permitted her to try and reach the level needed to compete in the Olympics. Natalie managed to achieve this level at a competition in May! So, she will now take part in the ten kilometre open water race – one of the hardest swimming events ever.
Voice 1
However, Oscar’s road to the Olympics has more barriers. Why? Well, it is because of his false legs – his running blades⁹. Many people thought that they gave Oscar an unfair advantage – that they helped him run faster. So, in November 2007, the sporting authorities asked a scientist to examine Oscar’s blades. Doctor Peter Brueggemann performed many tests. And, he decided¹⁰ that Oscar’s blades returned energy to his upper legs with more effect than a normal ankle joint¹¹. This meant that Oscar used less energy than other runners. The authorities then banned Oscar from competing against able–bodied runners.
Voice 2
But Oscar was not prepared to give up his dream. In May 2008, he appealed to the Court of Arbitration¹² for Sport – the highest authority¹³ in the sporting world. There, experts in the science of body movement presented evidence to support Oscar’s case. They argued that Doctor Brueggemann did not consider how the blades affected¹⁴ the whole of Oscar’s body when he moved. If he had, he would have discovered that they gave no real advantage to Oscar at all. The Court of Arbitration agreed. Oscar’s road to the Olympics was now much clearer!
Voice 1
At the time we are making this programme, one more barrier stands between Oscar and his Olympic dream. He has to reach the target qualifying¹⁵ time. Up to this point, Oscar has not run a fast enough time to gain him entry into the four hundred metre race. However, Oscar still has time to prove himself. If he fails, Oscar may still be included in the South African relay¹⁶ team. This is a team race. So the relay runners do not need to achieve the individual target time. But Oscar is still hopeful of gaining an individual place.
Voice 2
Public opinion is still divided about Natalie and Oscar taking part in the Olympic Games. Some people believe that it decreases the value of the Paralympics. And, they ask why Natalie and Oscar are not happy just to be the best Paralympic athletes. Other people welcome this development. They believe it shows that physical difference does not matter. And that if you can legally reach the top level, then you deserve¹⁷ a chance to compete.
Voice 1
However, most people agree on one thing – that Natalie and Oscar are two very brave young people. And that their bravery will encourage other people like them to push through difficult barriers in their own lives.
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 crushed   

a.压碎的，倒碎的

参考例句：

• The car was completely crushed under the truck. 小轿车被卡车压得完全变形了。
• The box was crushed when the car ran over it. 汽车辗过箱子时把它给压碎了。

6 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

7 blade   

n.刀刃，刀片；叶片

参考例句：

• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。
• He is a good blade.他剑术高明。

8 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 blades   

n.刀口( blade的名词复数 )；（机器上旋转的）叶片；桨叶；（船桨的）桨叶

参考例句：

• the blades of a propeller 螺旋桨叶
• Stay well away from the helicopter when its blades start to rotate. 直升机的螺旋桨开始转动时，尽量离远点儿。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

12 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

13 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

14 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

15 qualifying   

使具有资格的

参考例句：

• players who fail at the pre-qualifying stage 在预选赛中淘汰掉的选手
• A doctoral candidate is required to pass a qualifying examination. 考博士需通过一个资格考试。

16 relay   

n.接力赛，中继转播（设备）；vt.转述，转播

参考例句：

• They will relay your message.他们会转达你的口信。
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages.这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。

17 deserve   

vt.应受，值得；vi. 应受报答，值得受赏

参考例句：

• You really deserve a good beating,you naughty boy.你这个调皮孩子真该打。
• I do not deserve all the praises bestowed upon me.我不配得到这些赞扬。