英语听力精选进阶版 7183（在线收听）

Background: 亚足联前任高级官员维拉潘近日表示说他认为2022卡塔尔世界杯应放在当地冬季 1月份或2月份举行。他还说欧洲足联可能不会同意2022年卡塔尔世界杯在当地最炎热的6月和7月举行。

Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2022 despite its scorching temperatures which often exceed 40 degrees celsius.

The super-rich Gulf state promised to install solar-powered cooling systems in the stadiums, and fan zones. But Peter Velappan, who led the development of Asian football for three decades until he left the AFC in 2006, has suggested a different solution.

He said no one would want play in those conditions and has strongly recommended that FIFA reschedule the tournament for January or February.

Germany's former captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, a member of FIFA's Executive Committee, has made a similar proposal. But Mike Lee, who worked as a consultant on Qatar's bid campaign, insisted moving the event from its traditional place in the calendar was never a consideration, and Qatar has the means to make it a comfortable experience for players and supporters.

Changing the dates of the World Cup would be complicated. It would disrupt the European league seasons. And calls to shift the tournament to earlier in the year would be resisted by FIFA. It's a debate which is likely to run for the next 12 years.

Glossary 词汇表

scorching 灼热的 

solar-powered 太阳能的 

tournament 比赛 

Fifa's Executive Committee 国际足联执行委员会 

to insist 坚持 

a consideration 深思熟虑 

the means 方法，手段 

to disrupt 打乱，中断 

to shift 移动 

to resist 拒绝，阻止

Questions and Answers

1. What do Qatari authorities plan to do to help football fans cope with high temperatures? 

They promised solar-powered cooling systems in the stadiums, and fan zones.

2. When would the World Cup be held under Peter Velappan’s proposal? 

The former senior member of the AFC recommended it to be held in January or February of 2022.

3. True or false? Qatar has agreed to move the tournament dates. 

False. According to Mike Lee, it has never been a consideration.

4. True or false? European clubs would not be happy with the change of the dates for the World Cup. 

True. Changing dates would disrupt the European league seasons.