VOA慢速英语2021 朝鲜宣布退出东京奥运会

The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics recently said fans from outside of Japan will not be able to attend the Games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

东京奥运会的组织方表示，由于新冠肺炎大流行，日本境外观众将无法出席本届奥运会。

Now, North Korea, a country that was expected to send athletes to the Olympics, announced it will not take part in the Games.

现在，朝鲜这个被期望派遣运动员参与的国家宣布不会参加本届奥运会。

North Korea said its National Olympic Committee had a meeting in late March and decided¹ not to attend in order to keep its athletes from getting sick.

朝鲜称该国奥委会于3月下旬开会决定不参加本届奥运会以防止运动员感染疾病。

However, a number of international policy experts think the decision is a way to keep the country closed. North Korea said it has controlled the spread of COVID-19 by closing its borders, banning foreign visitors and sending diplomats² home. But those who follow North Korea think that may not be true. The country already has a weak medical system because of international economic restrictions³ that have limited spending on infrastructure⁴.

然而许多国际政策专家认为该决定是为了保持该国的封闭。朝鲜称该国通过关闭边境、禁止外国游客和把外交官送回国来控制新冠肺炎的扩散。但是密切关注朝鲜的人士认为那可能并非事实。由于国际经济制裁限制了基础设施投入，该国的医疗体系薄弱。

Experts say the closed border is making life in North Korea more difficult than necessary for the average person.

专家表示，关闭国门使得朝鲜普通人的生活更加困难。

Jean H. Lee directs the North Korean program for The Wilson Center, an international policy research center in Washington, D.C.

Jean H. Lee执掌威尔逊中心的朝鲜项目，这是华盛顿特区的一家国际政策研究中心。

In a tweet, she asked if any other country has announced it would not attend the Olympics. She called the move "a political decision...as much as it is a public health concern."

她在推特上问是否有其它国家宣布不会参加奥运会。她称此举是一项政治决定，也是一种公共卫生担忧。

A spokesperson for the South Korean foreign ministry⁵ said there is still time for North Korea to reconsider its decision.

韩国外交部发言人表示，朝鲜还有时间重新考虑其决定。

Many people thought the 2018 winter Olympics in South Korea was a chance to renew diplomacy⁶ with North Korea. The closed-off nation sent 22 athletes, government officials, performers and a 230-member cheering group. Athletes from both North and South Korea marched under a flag with a blue map that symbolized⁷ a united Korean land.

许多人认为，2018年韩国冬奥会是恢复与朝鲜外交的一个机会。这个封闭国家派出了22名运动员、政府官员、表演者以及一个由230人组成的啦啦队。来自朝鲜和韩国的运动员在一面象征朝鲜半岛统一的蓝色旗帜下入场。

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also attended the Games.

朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹也出席了冬奥会。

Experts say North Korea's presence at the 2018 Games helped start discussions between former U.S. President Donald Trump⁸ and Kim. The talks, however, have not restarted for more than one year.

专家表示，朝鲜出席2018年冬奥会帮助开启了前川普总统和金正恩之间的会谈。然而这些谈判已经停滞了一年多时间。

In addition, North Korea recently fired test missiles for the first time in one year.

此外朝鲜最近发射了试验导弹，这是一年来的首次。

The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics were delayed because of the coronavirus health crisis. The Games are scheduled to open on July 23.

由于新冠病毒健康危机，2020年东京奥运会被推迟。本届奥运会定于7月23日开幕。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 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。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

7 symbolized   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句

8 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。