VOA常速英语2015--加州迎接特殊奥林匹克运动会的运动员（在线收听）

California Welcomes Special Olympics Athletes 加州迎接特殊奥林匹克运动会的运动员

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA—

Cities and towns in Southern California are greeting thousands of athletes who are arriving for Special Olympics, a competition for people with intellectual disabilities.  The games will run from July 25 through August 2. 

Athletes from Namibia, Singapore and Tanzania got a rousing welcome from local residents in Pasadena, California. The three delegations arrived at Pasadena City Hall, where residents turned out and local high school students offered entertainment.

三个代表团抵达帕萨迪纳市政厅，居民们和当地高中生们前来提供各种娱乐活动。

The team doctor of the Tanzanian delegation, Juma Mwanandi Mwankemwa, is happy to be here.

坦桑尼亚代表团的随队医生很高兴来到这里。

“Because we had a very long journey, about 50 hours traveling, but the great hospitality of the people of Los Angeles since we arrived – we've had full attention, good accommodation, good meals, and good cheers from everybody," said Mwankemwa.

“我们进行了长途旅行，大约50小时的旅行，但一到达就受到洛杉矶市民的热情欢迎，我们得到全面的关注、舒服的住宿、饮食和欢呼。”

Around Southern California 6,500 athletes have gotten greetings like this.

在整个南加州，有6500名运动员得到这样的欢迎接待。

Namibian basketball coach Malakia Matias is impressed.

纳米比亚篮球教练对此印象深刻。

“Oh, it's really, really amazing.  It's my first time here.  The atmosphere is just great and the people are lovely.  The reception has been overwhelming," said Matias.

“太棒了，这是我第一次来这里，这里气氛很好，人们很可爱，对我们的接待也很棒。”

This is the first international travel for many of these athletes, who are here to make friends, as well as compete.  The Namibian coach says he and his players are enjoying themselves after long months of practice.

对很多运动员来说这是他们的第一次国际旅行，他们来这里不仅为了竞赛，也是为了交友。这位纳米比亚教练称他和运动员们进行了几个月的锻炼，现在在好好享受这一切。

“They have really good experience.  Now is the time when they have to display all the hard work they’ve put in for the whole year," he said.

“他们进行了很好的锻炼，现在是他们展示一整年来苦练成果的时候了。”

Runners have brought the Special Olympics torch, called the Flame of Hope, to this and other sites around Los Angeles, traveling through 35 countries and all 50 US states in a fund-raising effort for Special Olympics by local police agencies. 

跑步者们将名为“希望之火”的特奥会火炬带到洛杉矶各个地点，这把火炬走过了35个俄国家和美国50个州，这是地方警察机构为特奥会筹资所做的努力。

Opening ceremonies for the games will take place Saturday night at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the historic home of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympic games.

特奥会的开幕式将在周六晚上举行，地点在洛杉矶纪念体育馆。