VOA标准英语2008年-Paralympics Open in Beijing

China is following its successful hosting of the Olympics with a lower-key opening ceremony for the Paralympics, an international sporting event for handicapped athletes, that runs until September 17. Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
　

China athlete Hou Ping lights up the cauldron at the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing Paralympic Games in Beijing, 06 Sep 2008

Chinese President Hu Jintao officially declared that the Paralympic games had begun.

The opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics involved a lavish¹ and elaborate performance that presented thousands of years of Chinese history.

In contrast, the opening ceremony for the Paralympics was mostly about the athletes.

Four thousand physically-disabled athletes from around the world entered the Bird's Nest stadium, either on foot or in a wheelchair.

Chinese women in bright pink frilly dresses led each of the 146 national delegations². Groups of young Chinese dancers, dressed in blue shorts and white baseball caps, danced to the music and waved red flags.

The president of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, praised these games as a Paralympic milestone³.

"These games will have more athletes, more competing nations and more sporting events than ever before," he said.

Earlier in the day, President Hu hosted visiting dignitaries for lunch in the Great Hall of the People.

President Hu says the Beijing Paralympic games are an opportunity for China to further promote a humanitarian⁴ spirit and safeguard the rights of disabled people.
　

Chinese President Hu Jintao (r) greets Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, 06 Sep 2008

One notable name on the guest list was Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who shook hands and posed for pictures with the Chinese president.

In Beijing Saturday, residents watched the Paralympic torch make its way through the city to the stadium.

Chinese state television showed excited spectators waving flags and cheering for the torch.

One spectator told CCTV that just as the Olympics have improved China's position in the world, he is hopeful the Paralympics will enhance China's position as a powerful sports country too.

There are 20 sports under competition during the Summer Paralympics. These include swimming, sailing and judo⁵, as well as things like wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.

The first day of competition is Sunday, and athletes will use many of the same venues⁶ that were featured in the Olympics.

1 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

2 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

3 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

4 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

5 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

6 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网