VOA标准英语2008年-Women's Football Kicks Off Beijing Olympics

Although the opening ceremonies are on Friday, Olympic competition begins Wednesday with the start of the women's football (soccer) tournament. At the Beijing Games in China, VOA's Jim Stevenson has this preview.
　

Goalkeeper Hope Solo1 reaches for ball during US Women's National soccer team practice in Washington, D.C. (May 2008 file photo)

Because the 12-nation Olympic football tournament is long, play is starting ahead of the opening ceremonies. The first games are being played in Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Tianjin.

The four top teams from last year's Women's World Cup, which was held in China, are considered the favorites in this tournament. World Cup champion Germany plays Brazil in a rematch of last year's final. The United States opens against Norway in a rematch of the bronze medal game won by the Americans.

But a broken leg is keeping prolific² U.S. scorer Abby Wambach out of the Olympics. Veteran³ teammate Heather O'Reilly says the U.S. women have the versatility⁴ to compensate⁵ for Wambach's absence.

"We have had a lot of changing starting lineups," she said. "And goals are coming from a ton of different places and a ton of different people. And that can not be anything but positive for our group."
　

US women's soccer team coach Pia Sundhage speaks during press conference at Olympics Stadium in Qinhuangdao, 04 Aug 2008

The Americans are led by Swedish-born coach Pia Sundhage, who was an assistant with the Chinese national team at last year's Women's World Cup. Concern about polluted air in China has been a major topic ahead of the Olympics. But Sundhage says the conditions have to be considered a part of the game.

"The two teams have the same air to breathe," Sundhage said. "So you have to deal with that. And that might be a certain thing for the coach. Depending on the first game, the second game, how tired players are and so on. It is a problem. But again we will have to deal with that. And it is the same condition for both teams."

Host China is also in action against Sweden. Other nations in the Olympic women's football tournament are Argentina, Canada, North Korea, Nigeria, Japan and New Zealand.

The tournament will wrap up with the bronze and gold medal games on Thursday, August 21 at Workers Stadium in Beijing. The men's tournament begins on Thursday.

1 solo   

n.独奏，独唱；adj.单独的；adv.单独地；v.放单飞，单独表演

参考例句：

• Tara is currently working on a solo album.塔拉眼下正忙着制作个人专辑。
• There's wonderfully lyrical flute solo in the middle of this symphony.在交响乐中间有一段奇妙的抒情长笛独奏。

2 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

3 veteran   

n.老兵；经验丰富的人，老手

参考例句：

• My grandfather is a veteran of the Second World War.我祖父是二战时的老兵。
• We often asked the veteran workers for advice.我们常常向老工人求教。

4 versatility   

n.多才多艺，多样性，多功能

参考例句：

• Versatility is another of your strong points,but don't overdo it by having too many irons in the fire.你还有一个长处是多才多艺，但不要揽事太多而太露锋芒。
• This versatility comes from a dual weather influence.这种多样性是由于双重的气候影响而形成的。

5 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。