东京奥运会闭幕

The Tokyo Olympics came to an end

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

The closing ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics is on the way, bringing the games to a close. As with most of the events, the finale is taking place in a stadium without fans. The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach described the games as a success despite the pandemic. Our sports correspondent Alex Capstick has this analysis.

It was always a bit of a gamble to put these games on in the middle of a pandemic, but the IOC and the local organizers will feel vindicated in making that decision, because the evidence suggests this there hasn't been a huge outbreak of COVID inside the Olympic bubble. The general population, they will argue, has been protected. But these games have also been uplifting. There have been full of drama. You know, records have been broken. Countries have won medals for the first time ever. We've seen some new sports which have really captured the imagination. And despite athletes having to compete in such challenging circumstances in a bubble, they have produced some mesmerizing performance.

VOCABULARY

1. finale n. the last part of a show or a piece of music （演出的）终场，结局；（音乐的）终曲，末乐章。例如：The festival ended with a grand finale in Hyde Park. 节日的压轴活动是在海德公园举行的盛大演出。

2. vindicate v. to prove that sth. is true or that you were right to do sth., especially when other people had a different opinion 证实；证明有理。例如：I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。

3. uplifting adj. making you feel happier or giving you more hope 令人振奋的；鼓舞人心的；催人奋进的。例如：an uplifting experience/speech令人振奋的经历 / 演说

4. mesmerize v. to have such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else 迷住；吸引

QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. The opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics is on the way.

2. As with most of the events, the finale is taking place in a stadium with fans.

3. It was always a bit of a gamble to put these games on in the middle of a pandemic.

4. There has been a huge outbreak of COVID inside the Olympic bubble.

5. There have been full of drama in these games.

6. Some records have been broken, and some countries have won medals for the first time ever in the Tokyo Olympics.

KEY

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

(F) 1. The opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics is on the way. （正确表达）The closing ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics is on the way.

(F) 2. As with most of the events, the finale is taking place in a stadium with fans.（正确表达）As with most of the events, the finale is taking place in a stadium without fans.

(T) 3. It was always a bit of a gamble to put these games on in the middle of a pandemic.

(F) 4. There has been a huge outbreak of COVID inside the Olympic bubble. （正确表达）There hasn't been a huge outbreak of COVID inside the Olympic bubble.

(T) 5. There have been full of drama in these games.

(T) 6. Some records have been broken, and some countries have won medals for the first time ever in the Tokyo Olympics.

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