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Words
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INTRO
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There
were celebrations in Beijing as the Chinese capital was awarded the
2008 Olympic Games. Duncan Hewitt reported. |
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IN
FULL
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Listen
to the report in full |
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16th
July 2001
Beijing gets 2008 Olympics
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NEWS
1
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to the first part of the report |
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Fireworks
lit up the Beijing sky and there was joy among the crowds
who'd gathered to watch the announcement from Moscow on huge public
video screens. After Beijing's narrow defeat by Sydney eight
years ago, the authorities had appealed for calm before the
announcement was made, but a massive media campaign has stirred
popular enthusiasm for a victory which Beijing's bid committee
described as the century-old dream of the Chinese nation.
The press are portraying Beijing's success as a sign that China
has come of age as a member of the international community.
For many of the citizens of the Chinese capital, what may be more
important is the massive infrastructure spending programme
promised by the city government, which some hope will bring long-overdue
improvements to Beijing's sewers, roads and public transport
network.
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Listen
to the words |
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WORDS
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joy
- a feeling of great happiness
narrow defeat - if you defeat someone, you win a victory
over them. Narrow defeat means to lose by a small number
of votes
appealed for calm - suggested that people don't get too excited
stirred popular enthusiasm - created a great eagerness to
be involved amongst the people
come of age - matured and been accepted as a member of the
international community
infrastructure - essential facilities such as roads, energy
resources and administrative systems
long-overdue improvements - improvements which should have
been made a long time ago
sewers - underground channel that carries away waste
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| NEWS
2 |
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Listen
to the second part of the report |
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Some
locals, though, have questioned the vast expense. Others are worried
that their homes will be knocked down as part of the city's reconstruction.
And human-rights groups have warned that the decision will
only give further legitimacy to what they see as a repressive
government -- yet the Chinese authorities insist that the Games
will lead to improvements in the country's human-rights situation.
And in a nation which takes its international prestige very
seriously, there's no doubting the enthusiasm among many members of
the public, particularly China's sports-obsessed young generation.
Others, however, will be watching closely to see whether Beijing can
live up to its promises both of creating a better urban environment
and of allowing what its bid committee said would be unfettered
foreign media access to China both before and during the 2008 Olympics. |
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Listen
to the words |
| WORDS |
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reconstruction
- rebuilding
human-rights groups - a group that fights for human freedom
legitimacy - if something has legitimacy it is seen
as being acceptable
a repressive government - a government which uses force and
unjust laws to restrict and control its people
international prestige - to be respected by people around
the world
urban - belonging or relating to a town or city
unfettered - unrestricted, not controlled
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Read
about the background to this story in BBC News Online |
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