VOA标准英语2010年-Preparations for Football World Cup Mo

It is four months until the kick-off of the first football World Cup in Africa and preparations in South Africa are moving into high gear. Billions of dollars worth of improvements to the country's infrastructure¹ have already been completed while other works still are under construction.

Scott Bobb | Durban 10 February 2010

Some World Cup matches will be played in the new stadium in Durban, South Africa

As the clock winds down for the June kick-off of the World Cup, South Africa's national football team has launched an intense series of training camps and friendly matches in preparation.

South Africans are proud to be hosting the World Cup. They see it as an opportunity to showcase their country to hundreds of thousands of visiting fans and a worldwide television audience of hundreds of millions.

The national team's latest matches were held in the Durban's new stadium.

Its soaring steel arch, rising more than 100 meters into the air, has changed the city skyline. The arch has a cable car that takes visitors to the top for breathtaking views of the city and the ocean.

Durban authorities are also refurbishing the city's beachfront promenade² and other tourist attractions.

On the night of South Africa's match with Zimbabwe Jan. 27, football fan Nkosinathi Wellington was enthusiastic about the facilities.

"The stadium is perfect for 2010, for the big matches," he said. "The shopping. Also to go to the sea, for the tourism. There is no crime. The police are there. Everything is fine."

The South African government has spent billions of dollars building five new stadiums and refurbishing five others, including Cape³ Town, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

The head coach of Argentina's national team, Diego Maradona, visited several South African cities in January.

During a visit to Johannesburg's 90,000-seat Soccer City he praised the country's new football facilities.

Maradona, who is viewed as one of the best footballers of recent times, dismissed fears over security. These intensified⁴ after a terrorist attack in January killed three people on the eve of the Africa championship in Angola.

He said things happen is the world but he spent a week in South Africa and saw that the people were good and very friendly. He said he had no doubt that it will be a great World Cup and there will be no problem with security.

The head of the South African Organizing Committee, Danny Jordaan, dismissed critics who have constantly questioned whether South Africa could successfully host an event of this size.

"First you said the stadiums will never be finished. That was your perception. The reality is all the stadiums are done," he said. "Then you said, no, they are going to run out of money before everything is in place. It did not happen. That was your perception. You were wrong."

The South African government has invested millions of dollars in improving transportation, accommodation and other tourism facilities. It is also training 40,000 additional police officers and buying millions of dollars worth of law enforcement equipment.

The fourth phase of ticket sales was launched on Feb. 9. Officials say two-thirds of them have been bought and 11 of the 64 matches have already been sold out.

Durban university student Colin Mtembu predicts a great World Cup

South African fans do not need reassurances⁵. They, like Durban university student Colin Mtembu, predict a great World Cup.

"Africa is ready. Please come and support your countries," he said. "And we'll have a blast, eh?"

The South African government hopes the World Cup will create thousands of jobs, boost the economy and make the country a major world tourism destination. For the fans, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the celebrations and see the world's greatest football players compete at home in Africa.
 

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 promenade   

n./v.散步

参考例句：

• People came out in smarter clothes to promenade along the front.人们穿上更加时髦漂亮的衣服，沿着海滨散步。
• We took a promenade along the canal after Sunday dinner.星期天晚饭后我们沿着运河散步。

3 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。

4 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reassurances   

n.消除恐惧或疑虑( reassurance的名词复数 )；恢复信心；使人消除恐惧或疑虑的事物；使人恢复信心的事物

参考例句：

• We have had some reassurances from the council that the building will be saved. 理事会保证会保留那座建筑，这使我们得到了些许安慰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everybody's reassurances have encouraged me. 大家的勉励鼓舞了我。 来自辞典例句