VOA常速英语2007年-Glittering Soccer World Cup Draw Aims to Silenc

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
26 November 2007

Organizers of the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa are calling Sunday's preliminary draw in the southern city of Durban a success. They say they hope it will put an end to doubts about the African nation's ability to host the event. Correspondent Scott Bobb has details from Johannesburg.

With the singing of Senegal's Youssou N'Dour, organizers of the 2010 soccer World Cup opened the preliminary draw in the South African port city of Durban.

Three-thousand delegates from more than 150 countries and the world soccer organization FIFA attended the glittering event.

The draw set the series of qualification matches that will narrow the field of nearly 200 national teams to 31 which, along with host South Africa, will compete in the finals for the coveted¹ trophy².

South African President Thabo Mbeki, in his welcoming remarks, promised a uniquely African experience for the 400,000 fans expected to attend.

"The world of football will win with Africa, in Africa," he said. "We are very happy indeed that today and in 2010 you will enjoy the African hospitality, the culture and heritage, the splendor³ and unspoiled natural beauty that is unique to this country and continent."

The head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, said holding the World Cup in Africa for the first time was an overdue⁴ act of justice to a continent that has contributed so many great players to the game.

"And now there is no doubt that the 2010 World Cup will be here, will be a big success, no doubt, ladies and gentlemen," he said.

The event was broadcast live to more than 170 countries.

The English delegation⁵ appeared dismayed when the draw landed their team in the same qualifying group as Croatia, which only last week eliminated them from the European Cup finals next year (with a 3-2 win in London).

According to the draw the United States could face Cuba for the first time in 60 years. South Korea could face North Korea. China, Australia and Iraq are pitted against each other in one of the toughest groups.

South Africa, as host, automatically qualifies for the finals, which are due to be played in June and July of 2010 in various cities around the country.

Ten stadiums are being built or refurbished for the event. Host cities are upgrading transportation networks and building thousands of additional hotel rooms. And the South African government is beefing up police and law courts in an effort to reduce one of the world's highest crime rates.

Critics at times have cited these factors to question whether the World Cup should be moved to another country. But FIFA officials dismiss the skeptics, saying the preparations are going well.

The organizers, who are eager to show the African World Cup will have something for everybody, closed the show with a performance by three South African opera tenors⁶, called the Afro Tenors.

1 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

3 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。

4 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

5 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

6 tenors   

n.男高音( tenor的名词复数 )；大意；男高音歌唱家；（文件的）抄本

参考例句：

• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration. 3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His one -- a-kind packaging thrilled an opera world ever-hungry for tenors. 他一对一类包装激动世界的歌剧以往任何时候都渴望的男高音。 来自互联网