新西兰英语 664 Olympic Gold Medal Ceremony in Auckland

 　　Tonight, an Olympic Gold Medal for the Women’s Shot¹ Put was presented to Valerie Adams in Auckland². She arrived back in New Zealand from overseas³ this morning.

　　At the time of the shot put event in London, Valerie was placed second. However, a week later, we learnt the news that the winner, Nadzeya Ostapchuk from Belarus, failed a drug test. She said that her coach put drugs in her food and she did not know about it. Her country has banned her from competing in world events for a year. However, if the Olympic Committee⁴ does not believe the story that the coach was to blame, she may be banned for two years.

　　The ceremony tonight was very emotional⁵ for Valerie Adams. Other New Zealand gold medal winners joined her on the stage. The Governor-General made a speech and then presented her with the medal. Students from her old school sang the New Zealand National Anthem⁶. The New Zealand flag was raised over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

　　After the ceremony, there was a fireworks display over Auckland Harbour. The ceremony was shown on a large screen on the waterfront in Wellington and a fireworks display followed over Wellington Harbour.

　　Valerie will stay in New Zealand for the next two months to relax before going overseas again.

　　Vocabulary

　　ban – forbid, not allow (often used in the passive⁷ e.g. she was banned)

　　blame – his fault (idiom: he was to blame)

　　Questions

　　Do you think a ceremony like this in your own country is better than receiving the gold medal at the Olympics?

　　What is the daily life of a top athlete like when he or she is training? What do they have to give up?

　　What kind of personality⁸ does a top athlete need to have?

1 shot   

n.炮弹，射击，射手；v.射击，发出，发芽；vbl.射击，发出，发芽

参考例句：

• He shot a wild duck.他射中一只野鸭。
• All the children shot out their hands for the money.所有的孩子突然伸出手来要钱。

2 Auckland   

n.奥克兰(新西兰港市)

参考例句：

• Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand.奥克兰是新西兰最大的城市。
• Return to auckland by bus in afternoon.下午乘车返回奥克兰。

3 overseas   

adj.海外的；adv.在海外

参考例句：

• Her man has been sent overseas by his employers.她的丈夫已被雇主派往海外。
• Many firms are focusing on increasing their markets overseas.许多商行都专注于扩大国外市场。

4 committee   

n.委员会，全体委员

参考例句：

• We referred the matter back to the Finance Committee.我们把这事转回给财政委员会处理。
• I am going to speak out against the committee's decision.我打算直言反对委员会的决定。

5 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

6 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

7 passive   

adj.被动的；消极的

参考例句：

• He has a passive expression on his face.他脸上有一种漠然的表情。
• It lands the manager in a passive position.它使经理处于被动地位。

8 personality   

n.个性，人格，名人

参考例句：

• Einstein was a great personality.爱因斯坦是个伟大的人物。
• She has a powerful personality.她有坚强的个性。