VOA常速英语2016--沙特女性体育努力打破刻板印象（在线收听）

沙特女性体育努力打破刻板印象

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA— One of the richest countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is, in many ways, as advanced as any place on Earth in terms of infrastructure and modern conveniences.

作为中东最富有国家之一，沙特在基础设施和现代化程度等很多方面可以说和世界其他地区一样发达。

But activists say the kingdom has a long way to go in terms of women’s rights.

但活动人士称在妇女权利方面，这个王国还有很远的路要走。

In this coastal city, they say that by encouraging women and girls to play basketball and other sports, they chip away at the image of Saudi women as virtually silent members of their society.

在这个滨海城市，他们说通过鼓励妇女和女孩打篮球等其他体育活动摈弃沙特女性在社会中沉默的形象。

“We played in the United States, Malaysia, in Jordan and the U.A.E., as well as Riyadh and other cities in Saudi Arabia," said Lina K. Almaeena of the Jeddah United Sports Company. "So, we do that locally to promote sports and internationally to try to change stereotypes and show a different segment in Saudi Arabia.”

“我们参加美国、马来西亚、约旦、阿联酋、利雅得和沙特其他城市的体育赛事，这样可以促进当地体育事业的发展，还改变了国际上的刻板印象，展示沙特不同的一面。”

At a sports event for handicapped children — both boys and girls — female basketball players said defying stereotypes in Saudi Arabia requires pushing boundaries, without breaking them.

在为残疾男孩和女孩们举办的体育赛事上，女性篮球运动员称打破沙特的刻板印象需要推动边界而无需打破它。

Opposed by some

Women’s basketball in Saudi Arabia is played without male fans. Even though the players are covered, many people still feel it is improper.

沙特女子篮球场上没有男性关注，即使球员们身上裹得严严实实，还是有很多人认为女人打球不恰当。

“It is not even against the law or against the religion," said Nour Gary, a baskeball player with Jeddah United. "It is just people having their own beliefs and trying to close [force] it on other people. So, yes, being open towards sports, they have more flexibility towards other things.”

“这不是在违法或违背宗教信条，而是人们有自己的看法并试图影响他人。所以一旦对体育有了开放的心态，他们对其他事情也就更灵活了。”

Players say women’s rights in Saudi Arabia have come far in recent years, but many basic freedoms, like the right to drive cars, are still elusive.

球员们说最近几年来沙特在女性权利方面取得了很大进步，驾驶权等基本的权利仍难有进步。

Last year, women in Saudi Arabia voted for the first time, some were voted into office. Like politicians, female athletes say they believe women’s’ sports will eventually be accepted more publicly.

去年，沙特妇女首次参加投票，还有女性被选出担任公职，女性运动员们说，就像政客一样，女性运动最终会被更多公众所接受。

“We have great athletes here in Saudi Arabia, some of them," said Deborah Parkwood, the women's basketball coach for Jeddah United. "The girls, they want to play harder, they want to train harder and they would love to compete for their country internationally.”

“我们沙特有一些出色的运动员，这些女孩们希望更努力拼搏，努力训练，从而能在国际上为国争光。”

In the meantime, players say promoting the health benefits of women’s sports locally is having an immediate impact on society by showing mothers the benefits of exercise for themselves and for their children.

同时，运动员们说，通过向母亲们展示健身对她们自己和孩子的健康益处，在当地宣传妇女体育的健康益处会对社会产生立竿见影的影响。