VOA标准英语2012--London Olympics Legacy Difficult to Quantify

 

London Olympics Legacy¹ Difficult to Quantify

London Olympics organizers say along with a short-term economic boost and new sports facilities, the Games will leave a legacy in Britain of increased participation² in sports and an improvement in public health.

It's hard to tell if sports centers will be more crowded after the Olympics, with Britons determined³ to be more fit. Opinions vary among Londoners near Olympic Park.

"People need to get that encouragement because it tends to be going the other way at the moment, with people sitting in front of [video] games all day," said one bystander.

The recent finals of the annual British university games at the new Olympic Stadium attracted a record number of participants. 

"I think the Olympics being here is truly inspiring people to actually do something that they haven't done for a long time," said University sports official Karen Rothery.

That is in keeping with the kind of post-Games benefits the London Organizing Committee wants. It formed a separate company to plan for the legacy, and company official Peter Tudor says one goal is to get as many people as possible to use the new sports facilities.

"'Inspire A Generation' is the new motto of the Games, and we're very excited about that," Tudor said. "We are committed with the venues⁴ to programming them absolutely to the brim with sporting activities that people want to do. But also to encouraging people who have never tried sport before."

But there is no scientific evidence that the Olympics will make any long-term difference in sports participation says Professor Adam Blake at Bournemouth University School of Tourism.

"In terms of academic research on sports participation, it's really not as cut and dried and black and white as we would hope it would be. In previous events, there really wasn't much evidence either way," noted⁵ Blake.

Blake is planning more research after the Games. 

In the meantime, people in Britain have been coming out in unexpectedly high numbers to catch a glimpse of the Olympic torch as it is carried around the country. Their enthusiasm indicates at least the potential to promote sports participation after the Games. 

1 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。

2 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 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

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。