VOA标准英语2012--US Track Team Prepares Outside London

 

US Track Team Prepares Outside London

Crowded London will be even more crowded during the Olympics. More than 200 Olympic teams will descend¹ on London this summer to compete for medals in dozens of sporting events. The city will be crowded with athletes, fans, officials and dignitaries. But the USA Track & Field team will escape the crowds and the pressure of the host city, basing itself 200 kilometers to the north.

Birmingham’s local council leader Mike Whitby put the deal together to bring the U.S. and Jamaican teams to his city, and also, he says, to bring more than $30 million worth of business.

“We are now where [the] American track and field [team] will train. This is the Alexander Stadium. I committed many, many millions of pounds to upgrading² the stadium. We’ve resurfaced the track. We have actually realigned and reconfigured the track here so that it mirror-images what they will run on in London,” said Whitby.

U.S. athletes who came to Birmingham for an indoor meet in February were happy with the plan.

“I think it’s great for middle distance runners especially, a lot of canals to run on. People speak English," said Morgan Uceny. "The weather is decent³.”

“I was here when they first came here to assess the place. For us, the distance runners, we need the dirt, we need somewhere where you can, you know, do long runs," said Bernard Lagat. "Birmingham provides that.”

Birmingham has a strong sports history, with a variety of facilities for the visiting Olympic teams to use.

The President of USA Track & Field, former athlete Stephanie Hightower, says Birmingham also offers an atmosphere that will help her team relax and get ready to compete.

“Whenever we go to another country, we want to be able to create a ‘home away from home.’ So, a lot of times when we go to whatever the host country is, you don’t have that sort of authentic⁴ opportunity to do that," she stated. "And with the city of Birmingham, and the multi-culturalism of this city, it pretty much represents what our team looks like, what it feels like.”

But there is one potential drawback⁵ to putting the team in Birmingham. It’s an hour-and-a-half trip to London, even on the fastest trains.

The athletes will make the trip to the Olympic Village several days before they have to compete, but team officials won’t want them to spend too much time in transit⁶, or worrying about timetables.

“Clearly, they looked at that and they didn’t see that as a problem. On the contrary, clearly they were away from the hubbub⁷ of the capital, and they can concentrate on the number of Golds that they want to win,” Whitby said.

The Olympic athletes will be watched by millions of people all around the world. But the American track team will make its final preparations well outside the spotlight⁸, in relatively⁹ relaxed surroundings 200 kilometers away. 

1 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

2 upgrading   

浓缩

参考例句：

• Many people are upgrading their mobiles to top-end models. 很多人不断将手机升级到最高档的款式。
• We will press ahead with our plans for upgrading the software. 我们会继续为我们的计划努力，加快进行软件升级。

3 decent   

adj.象样的，不错的，体面的，正派的，恰当的

参考例句：

• We want to raise our children to be decent men and women.我们盼望把孩子们培养成优秀人才。
• There isn't even a decent table in this room.这屋里连张像样的桌子也没有。

4 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

5 drawback   

n.缺点，欠缺，不利条件

参考例句：

• Everything has its drawback.事事不免有缺点。
• He felt the apartment's only drawback was that it was too small.他觉得这个公寓唯一的缺点就是太小了。

6 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

7 hubbub   

n.嘈杂；骚乱

参考例句：

• The hubbub of voices drowned out the host's voice.嘈杂的声音淹没了主人的声音。
• He concentrated on the work in hand,and the hubbub outside the room simply flowed over him.他埋头于手头的工作，室外的吵闹声他简直象没有听见一般。

8 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

9 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。