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Soccer’s Spectacular Event 足坛盛会

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South Africa unites behind the World Cup, which takes place June 11 – July 11  举国齐心，南非迎接世界杯，定于六月十一日至七月十一日展开

Mahlodi Legodi is not a soccer fan, but she’s excited about the World Cup coming to her country.

玛洛迪．乐高蒂不是个足球迷，但她对于自己的国家即将主办世界杯一事，感到相当兴奋。

“It’s a great opportunity that we are having the World Cup hosted in South Africa,” the 18-year-old Soweto resident said. “Keeping in mind the struggle that we have been through …. I’m very proud that the World Cup will be held in South Africa.”

「主办世界杯是南非的大好良机，」这位十八岁的苏维托居民表示，「想想我们经历过的艰辛奋斗…世界杯即将在南非举行，让我感到非常骄傲。」

Legodi’s attitude epitomizes that of most South Africans, whatever their political persuasion, race, social class or economic status.

不论政治立场（译注：persuasion指信念）、种族、社会阶级、经济状况为何，乐高蒂的看法代表了大多数南非人的心声。

[This] unity has served South Africa well in recent years as the nation – the first in Africa to host a World Cup – has fended off everything from publicity about crime and striking unions to persistent rumors that organizers were preparing a “plan B” for the tournament should preparations go off the rails.

南非是第一个主办世界杯的非洲国家。该国努力抵挡种种不利消息，从犯罪猖獗、工会罢工，乃至主办单位正规划「备用方案」以便因应万一世界杯的筹备工作脱轨失序的耳语也不断，因此近年来这种团结气氛有助提振南非的民心士气。

There is no doubt that FIFA, soccer’s global organizing body, made a bold statement when it awarded the tournament to South Africa in 2004. The country, burdened by stark racial and economic inequality, had one of the highest murder rates in the world. Its roads, bridges, train lines and airports at the time were nowhere near ready. There was widespread doubt among fans and rival nations that South Africa could rise to meet the challenge.

世界性足球组织「国际足球总会」在二００四年宣布由南非主办下一届世界杯时，无疑是大胆的举动，因为南非的种族不平等与贫富不均问题极为严重，谋杀案发生率为全球最高的国家之一，当时的道路、桥梁、铁路、机场等设施完全不足以应付。南非能否奋起完成这项挑战，足球迷和对手国家都大为质疑。

Dispelling the doubts  扫除疑虑

But the success of the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament held last summer, showed that South Africa had pulled out all the stops to make sure the World Cup comes off smoothly.

然而二００九夏季世界杯暖身赛：联合会杯的圆满成功，证明了南非全力以赴，以确保世界杯能顺利进行。

South Africa is expected to spend $2.4 billion on direct investment in stadiums and transportation infrastructure related to the tournament. Billions more have been set aside for increased police and emergency-worker presence. Overall spending between 2006 and 2010 to upgrade the country’s infrastructure is forecast to hit $55 billion.

预料南非将花费二十四亿美元直接投资在赛事相关的体育馆及交通基础建设上，另外还会拨出数十亿美元用于增加警力与紧急应变人员。二００六年至二０一０年间更新南非基础建设的总花费，预估将高达五百五十亿美元。

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persuasion [pɚˋsweʒən] n. 宗派；派别；教派

serve [sɝv] v. 适用；有用；足够[（+for/as）]

fend [fɛnd] v. 抵挡，击退；避开[（+off）]

publicity [pʌbˋlɪsətɪ] n.（媒体或公众的）关注

striking [ˋstraɪkɪŋ] adj. 罢工的

persistent [pɚˋsɪstənt] adj. 持续的，持久的; 反复的，不断的

tournament [ˋtɝnəmənt] n. 比赛；锦标赛；联赛

should [ʃʊd] v.aux.助动词（表示语气较强的假设）万一

go off the rails【英】【口】陷于混乱; 失去控制 to be spoiled by bad management

confederation [kən͵fɛdəˋreʃən] n. 同盟，联盟；邦联

come off【口】举行; 发生 to happen; to take place

stadium [ˋstedɪəm] n. 体育场，运动场；球场；竞技场

set aside 存储, 留出; 拨出 to reserve something for someone or some purpose.

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In addition to providing a badly needed upgrade to South Africa’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure, World Cup spending has helped significantly lessen the impact of the world economic crisis by creating about 160,000 new jobs.

世界杯的开支除了让南非的道路、桥梁及其他老旧的基础设施获得亟需的更新翻修之外，同时也创造了约十六万个新工作机会，大大减轻全球金融危机所造成的冲击。

“The World Cup couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Michael Jordaan, chief executive of First National Bank, a main sponsor of the World Cup.

第一国家银行是世界杯主要赞助商之一，其执行长迈可．乔坦表示，「举办世界杯的时机真是再好不过了。」

Overcoming obstacles  克服重重阻碍

There are still problems to overcome. The country is expected to welcome nearly 500,000 tourists to the event, which is being held in nine cities. Distances in South Africa are great, and transport between host cities is expected to be congested.

然而还是有难题尚待解决。世界杯赛事将在南非九个城市举行，预计将有近五十万名观光客参与盛会。南非幅员广大，（所以主办城市之间的距离相当遥远，）而这些城市之间的交通预期也将壅塞不已。

By some estimates, South Africa is 9,000 hotel rooms short of what will be needed to house all visitors. But while they acknowledge that some visitors will have to make long trips to see games, organizers say new hotel construction, guest houses and home rentals should make up the lodging deficit.

在提供所有游客住宿方面，预估南非还短少九千个饭店房间。主办单位虽坦承有些游客将得长途往返观看球赛，但他们指出，新饭店的兴建、旅舍、租屋应足以弥补住房的短缺。

Milestone  里程碑

Eddie Majadibodu, a top official of the National Union of mineworkers, exudes a toughness and confidence gained during 23 years spent in South Africa’s mines.

艾迪．玛贾波笃是南非全国矿工工会的高级官员，在南非矿坑工作二十三年的经验，使他流露出一股坚毅与自信。

In his view, hosting the tournament is a reflection of the progress the country has made. “It’s a huge milestone,” he said. “South Africa was the last country to get freedom in sub-Saharan Africa. Getting the World Cup is a world recognition and incentive that maybe we are doing things right.”

玛贾波笃认为，主办世界杯反映出南非的进步。「这是个重大里程碑。」他表示，「南非是非洲的撒哈拉沙漠南部及以南地区最后一个获得自由的国家（译注：虽然南非在一九一０年五月三十一日脱离英国，成立邦联，但一直到一九六一年五月三十一日才真正成立共和国），取得世界杯主办权是世人对我们的认可与鼓励，反映出也许我们把事情做对了。」

“So I am very, very, very pleased,” Majadibodu added. “The World Cup put South Africa on the world map in a very positive way.”

「所以我非常、非常、非常高兴，」玛贾波笃补充说，「世界杯让南非以十分正面的方式登上了世界舞台。」

−by Christopher Noble

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badly [ˋbædlɪ] adv.【口】很，非常

make up 补足 to compensate for

deficit [ˋdɛfɪsɪt] n. 不足额；赤字

Saharan [səˋhɛrən] adj. 撒哈拉沙漠的；似撒哈拉沙漠的

incentive [ɪnˋsɛntɪv] n. 刺激；鼓励

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Vocabulary Focus

epitomize [ɪˋpɪtə͵maɪz] v. 象征；作为……的缩影 to be a perfect example of a quality or type of thing

fend off 抵御, 抵挡 to defend oneself against someone or something that is dangerous or annoying; prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

stark [stɑrk] adj. (选择、陈述等)严峻的 severe or extreme

dispel [dɪˋspɛl] v. 驱散；消除 to remove fears, doubts and false ideas, usually by proving them wrong or unnecessary

pull out all the stops 全力以赴；用尽一切的实力 to do everything you can to make something successful

exude [ɪgˋzjud] v. 流露; 显露 to have a lot of a particular quality or feeling

reference:

FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa Official Theme Song-Wavin' Flag

K'naan David Bisbal - Wavin' Flag

Shakira - Waka Waka | Official Video