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Cowal Highland Gathering: It’s Not the Olympics 另类奥林匹克──苏格兰科瓦尔高地运动会

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The caber toss and the stone put might not sound like incredibly competitive sporting events, but in Scotland, that’s exactly what they are. In the caber toss, a log is hurled into the air in a demonstration of athletic strength and balance. In the stone put, is thrown as far as possible. These are just a couple of the things you’ll find a “heavy” – a super-size contestant – doing at the Highland games.

抛木柱和掷石块──听起来可能难以置信是运动竞赛的项目，但却真的出现在苏格兰。在抛木柱项目中，参赛者把长木柱猛力地抛向天际，以展现他们的力度与平衡感；而在掷石块一项，则是把重铅球两倍的石块丢得超远越好。这些「重量级」竞赛者的比赛项目，只不过是高地运动会上的其中两项。

The most prestigious of these is the Cowal Highland Gathering, held every August in Dunoon, Argyll. More than a showcase for Scotland’s traditional sporting disciplines, the Cowal Games also wows spectators with Scottish dancing, piping, and drumming events. Attracting participants and enthusiasts from around the world, far-flung Dunoon hosts up to 20,000 visitors during the Games. It’s come a long way since the first ever competition in 1894, when the crowd was fewer than 2,000 people!

最负盛名的就是「科瓦尔高地运动会」，每年八月在阿盖尔郡的都伦举行。会中除了展现苏格兰传统的体能训练成果外，观众还能看到令人惊叹的苏格兰舞蹈、风笛和鼓队竞赛。地处偏远的都伦镇在高地运动会期间，吸引了来自世界各地的参与者和狂热者。第一届的运动会早在1894年开办，当时的观众不到两千人，经过长时间的演变，现在比赛期间，都伦镇容纳了将近两万人。

These days, Canadians, Australians, South Africans, New Zealanders, Europeans, and Americans all come to compete against the Scots on their home turf. As the heavies toss the caber and throw the hammer – dressed, of course, in kilts – spectators can sample delicious local food and enjoy the fresh highland air.

如今，加拿大人、澳洲人、南非人、纽西兰人、欧洲人和美国人全都前往苏格兰当地与苏格兰人一较高下。这些重量级的参赛者比赛抛木柱和掷链球时，当然也需穿着苏格兰裙；而观众们可以一边品尝当地美食，一边呼吸高地的新鲜空气。

For a change of pace, check out the dancers performing the highland fling in the World Highland Dancing Championships. The three-day event is set to the unmistakable sound of the bagpipes, and hundreds of pipe bands compete for the coveted Argyll Shield. London may be preparing for the Olympics, but the small town of Dunoon has a wonderful competition of its own.

想换一换步调，那就不能错过世界高地舞蹈锦标赛的苏格兰高地舞表演，为期三天的运动会，有独特的风笛乐音为之伴奏，数百个风笛乐团角逐梦寐以求的阿盖尔盾牌奖。虽然英国伦敦可能正在筹备奥林匹克运动大会，但都伦小镇亦有专属的精彩运动会。

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

片语发音

caber [ˋkebɚ] n.（苏格兰掷远比赛力气的）长木柱

caber toss 抛长木柱比赛

stone put 掷石块比赛

hurl [hɝl] v. 猛力投掷

heavy [ˋhɛvɪ] adj. (沉)重的; n.（雇作保镖或打手的）彪形大汉 Informal a heavyweight boxer, wrestler, etc.

prestigious [prɛsˋtɪdʒɪəs] adj. 有威望[声望]; 威信]的

showcase [ˋʃo͵kes] v. 使展现；使亮相

discipline [ˋdɪsəplɪn] n. 训练

wow [waʊ] v. 赢得……喝采

piping [ˋpaɪpɪŋ] n. 笛声

far-flung [ˋfɑrˋflʌŋ] adj. 遥远的

Scots [skɑts] n. 苏格兰人

kilt [kɪlt] n. 苏格兰男用短裙；褶襉短裙

highland fling 苏格兰高地舞

unmistakable [͵ʌnməˋstekəb!] adj. 不会弄错的；清楚的

bagpipe [ˋbæg͵paɪp] n. 风笛

coveted [ˋkʌvɪtɪd] adj. 渴望得到的；梦寐以求的

shield [ˋʃild] n. 盾状物；盾形徽章

Idiom

片语发音

up to 多达.... as many as

come a long way 大有进步 to make a lot of progress and improvement

set to 开始 start in

Reading Questions

1.    Why is Dunoon an unusual location?

(A)  Fewer than 2,000 people live there.

(B)  It has a large population of Canadians, Australians, and Americans.

(C)  It’s very cold in August, when the Highland Games are held.

(D)  It’s far away from other cities.

2.    Which of the following is NOT part of the Cowal Highland Gathering?

(A)  A drumming event

(B)  The caber toss

(C)  The shot put

(D)  Dancing

3.    Which of the following statements about the Cowal Gathering is correct?

(A)  A lot of pipe bands are trying to get the Argyll Shield.

(B)  Spectators wear kilts at the Games.

(C)  The caber toss is the most competitive event.

(D)  The four-day event draws up to 20,000 visitors.

Sebastian Wenta Caber Toss

Cowal Highland Gathering - A day at the Cowal 

RSPBA Highland Dancing Championship

Answer