2007年VOA标准英语-FIFA Chief Underscores World Cup Will Be Held i

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
18 June 2007

The head of the world soccer federation¹, FIFA, has arrived in South Africa to inspect work on 10 stadiums being built or refurbished for the 2010 soccer World Cup. Sepp Blatter immediately sought to dispel² persistent³ reports that alternate countries are being considered. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Johannesburg.

Sepp Blatter (L) poses with Local Organizing Committee (LOC) members, Irvin Khoza chairman (C) and Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo (r) at Soccer City in Johannesburg, 18 June 2007

The head of soccer's world governing body, Sepp Blatter, Monday inspected construction on Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium and said in general construction is on track.

"You may be assured that nothing, nothing can now be against [holding] this World Cup here in South Africa, nothing but God," he said.

South African officials are keen to quash once and for all reports that an alternate country is being considered because of crime and a lack of hotels and transportation in South Africa.

Johannesburg's largest stadium is being gutted⁴ and refurbished to meet FIFA standards.

Blatter is to fly to Cape⁵ Town Tuesday to inspect progress on a new stadium there. He is also to meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki and local officials.

The South African government has earmarked more than $1 billion for improvements in sports stadiums, airports and transportation networks.

The projects have been criticized for taking funds away from more durable⁶ projects. But officials like Johannesburg's Mayor Amos Masondo say the investment will benefit South Africans long after the World Cup is over.

"We want to use the 2010 FIFA World Cup pressure to deepen our own programs in the city and indeed to ensure that when the 2010 soccer World Cup has come and gone there are meaningful legacy⁷ projects," he said.

An estimated 400,000 foreign fans will come to watch World Cup matches. Officials say the World Cup will generate some two billion dollars in additional revenues and generate 100,000 new jobs.

Blatter sought to dispel fears that the price of tickets to World Cup games, reported to start at $50 (US), will be too high for the average South African to afford.

"You may be assured that we will make ticket prices also available directly or indirectly⁸ to the population here in all the country of South Africa," he said.

He added that World Cup viewing sites equipped with giant television screens would be built in cities around the country.

The FIFA chief also announced that his organization would provide free broadcasting rights to the Africa Union of Broadcasting and its audiences in sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Broadcasting officials, meeting in Johannesburg last week, said a change was needed in the traditional practice of selling the rights to a single multinational⁹ broadcasting company which then redistributed them.

They said efforts must be made to broadcast World Cup events from an African perspective.

1 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

2 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

3 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

4 gutted   

adj.容易消化的v.毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的过去式和过去分词 )；取出…的内脏

参考例句：

• Disappointed? I was gutted! 失望？我是伤心透了！
• The invaders gutted the historic building. 侵略者们将那幢历史上有名的建筑洗劫一空。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

6 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

7 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

8 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

9 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。