VOA标准英语2010年-Vancouver Signs Over Winter Games to S

Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov (l) and Dzhambulat Khatuov, the first vice-governor of the Krasnodar Region

Although the Vancouver Games have not ended, the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia are in the news.  At a special ceremony Tuesday, Vancouver and British Colombia officials signed over the Winter Games to officials from the Black Sea resort.  Sochi hopes to use Vancouver's experience to help it stage the games in four years.

In a special ceremony in downtown Vancouver, British Colombia Premier¹ Gordon Campbell signed a cooperation agreement with Dzhambulat Khatuov, the first vice-governor of the Krasnodar Region, which includes Sochi.

The agreement is an Olympic tradition - the host city of the current games agrees to share knowledge and expertise² with the next host city.  Khatuov said Vancouver has set a high standard for Sochi to imitate.

"And I would like to assure you that your support and assistance, coupled with our effort -- effort of the region at large and the city of Sochi - we will run the 22nd Winter Olympics not simply duly but at the sky-rocket level," said Dzhambulat Khatuov.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says that his city has run fantastic games, and that he is sad that they have to end.  However, he expressed confidence that Sochi will also be a great host.

"It will be hard to let go of these games," said Gregor Robertson. "We are enjoying them so much here.  We will savor³ the remaining days.  But I do look forward to handing the flag to his worship. the mayor of Sochi on Sunday."

Vancouver did have to deal with protests before and during the games.  Protesters smashed windows and clashed with police and there were some arrests for drunkenness in the huge crowds.  Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov said his aim is that the Olympics will benefit everyone in Sochi.

"The president, the government of the Russian Federation⁴ has given us clear instruction to organize the process in such a way that no resident would suffer negative effects of the organization and implementation⁵ [of the games]," said Anatoly Pakhomov.

The weather in Vancouver has been warmer than expected, causing some events to be rescheduled - a problem Sochi organizers might also face.  The Black Sea resort also has traditionally warm weather, even in winter. Like Vancouver, Sochi is splitting the Olympic events between its downtown and a multi-billion-dollar ski resort being built at Rosa Khutor.  Sochi's mayor says the diversity of his city makes it an ideal Winter Olympic host.

"Whilst standing⁶ with your two feet in the relatively⁷ warm Black Sea in winter, you will see the mountains covered with snow only a few miles away from Sochi," he said. "That's the uniqueness and that's what makes Sochi the unique and best place or the Winter Olympics."

Sochi organizers hired Bernhard Russi, the 1972 Olympic champion downhill skier⁸ - who also designed courses for the Winter Olympics in Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano and Salt Lake City - to oversee⁹ construction of the Rosa Khutor resort. The area will host not only Alpine¹⁰ skiing, but also snowboarding, freestyle skiing, biathlon and ski jumping.

The first major event scheduled at Rosa Khutor is the European Cup in 2011. The Vancouver Games end Sunday.  The Sochi Games start February 7, 2014 - 1,439 days after the Olympic flame is extinguished in Canada.

 

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

3 savor   

vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味

参考例句：

• The soup has a savor of onion.这汤有洋葱味。
• His humorous remarks added a savor to our conversation.他幽默的话语给谈话增添了风趣。

4 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。

5 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

9 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

10 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。