South Africa Prepares for 2010 World Cup 南非为2010年的世界杯做准备
Qualifying matches have begun around the world for the football World Cup, which begins in two years. In 2010 the World Cup is to be held for the first time in Africa and attention is focusing on host nation South Africa. In anticipation, sports and tourism officials have assured industry observers and sports fans that the country will be ready. They appeared at a major trade fair in the port city of Durban. Correspondent Scott Bobb was there and has this report.
世界杯预选赛已经在全球开始, 此届世界杯在两年内进行. 2010年的世界杯首次在南非举办, 东道主南非成为了世界瞩目的焦点.期待中的体育旅游官员已经向行业观察员和球迷保证南非会做好准备. 他们出席了港口城市德班的大型商品交易会. 通讯员斯科特巴布在那里并对此进行报道.
Football fever was the major theme at South Africa's tourism trade fair in Durban this year. And one of the attractions was an exhibition game of the world's most popular sport.
今年, 足球热是南非旅游交易会的大主题, 此交易会在德班举行. 其中的一个亮点是全球最受欢迎的运动比赛展示.
Organizers of the 2010 Soccer World Cup also launched a major offensive to dispel any doubts about South Africa's readiness when competition begins in two years.
2010年的足球世界杯的组织者也发起了一场浩瀚的攻势以消除人们对南非准备工作的疑虑, 比赛在两年内进行.
The head of the local organizing committee, Danny Jordaan, told several hundred journalists that construction was ahead of schedule on the 10 stadiums to be used for the matches.
当地组委会主任丹尼乔丹告诉几百名记者,用于比赛的10个体育馆会提前完成建设.
"Progress on the stadiums is very advanced in many cases," he said. "And in some cases we have difficulties. But that is something which every other organizing committee experiences. However, we are convinced that the stadiums will be complete long before kickoff on 11th of July [2010]."
他说, “体育馆的建设进展在很多情况下富有成效. 虽然有时候我们遇到了困难, 但这是每一个组委会都会经历的事情. 可我们深信体育馆会在2010年七月11号开球前建设完成.
Durban's stadium, one of several all-new facilities, is rising steadily. With its 100-meter-high roof-supporting arch the stadium will alter the skyline of South Africa's second largest city. At a cost of several hundred million dollars, it will be the center of a sports city with its own railway station and beachside entertainment park.
德班体育馆, 全新设施之一, 正稳固拔地而起. 用它那100高的支顶拱门, 这个体育馆将改变南非第二大城市的天空轮廓线. 以几亿美元的成本, 它将成为一个拥有机场和海滨娱乐公园的运动型城市中心.
Cape Town is also building a brand new stadium at Greenpoint between its famous beaches and Table Mountain. Eight other cities are building or refurbishing stadiums including Johannesburg, which will host the final match.
开普墩正在位于著名的海滨与平顶山之间的Greenpoint建设崭新的体育馆. 其它的八个城市正在建设或刷新体育馆, 包括约翰内斯堡, 那里将主办决赛.
Jordaan says a major concern is keeping costs down. "We have been prudent enough to ensure that we remain within budget. And that is a huge challenge," he said. "It requires consistent monitoring, financial discipline." But he says escalating costs for fuel and construction material cannot be controlled and this requires strict vigilance.
乔丹说最关心的是要降低成本. “ 我们很谨慎足以确保保持在预算内, 这是一个巨大的挑战. 它需要一致的监视和财政纪律.” 但是他说逐步上升的燃料成本和建筑原料成本难以控制并且这需要严厉的警惕性.
The government is also spending several billion dollars to upgrade airports, highways and other networks to transport the estimated 400,000 visitors who are to attend the event.
政府也在花了几十亿美元升级机场, 干道和其他网络,该网络运载着40万左右的来参与世界杯的游客.
Suth Africa's multi-billion dollar tourism industry is also gearing up. The head of South Africa Tourism, Moeketsi Mosola, says nine million tourists came to South Africa last year and 10 million are expected this year. With such statistics he is certain that the industry will be able to accommodate World Cup fans. Moreover, he promises them a uniquely African experience.
南非几十亿美元的旅游业也正在蓬蓬勃勃地准备着. 南非旅游业主任莫科茨莫萨拉说, 去年有九百万来南非的游客, 今年有望达到一千万. 拥有这些统计数字, 他有把握旅游业能承载世界杯球迷, 此外, 他承诺球迷们会经历一次独特的南非之旅.
"You wake up in the morning in the middle of a game reserve," Mosola said. "You go for a [game] drive at four a.m. in the morning. We pick you up. We take you, we fly you into Johannesburg to watch a game at three o'clock. You are back in the middle of the bush by seven o'clock, eight, in the evening and you have a dinner in the boma [restaurant]. That is an African experience and that is what is going to make this World Cup absolutely different."
莫萨拉说, “临晨, 你在禁猎区的中央苏醒, 临晨四点你去坐车, 我们去接你, 带上你我们让你飞进约翰内斯堡观看下午三点的比赛. 七点你回到灌木丛中, 晚上八点你在巴玛饭店进餐. 这就是这一次南非体验, 这就是让南非世界杯绝对独特的秘诀.
Some of the teams will be training in neighboring countries, such as Namibia and Mozambique, and these are also mobilizing to attract some of the tourism dollars.
一些球队将会在邻国受训, 比如纳米比亚, 莫桑比克. 这些地方也正在动员以吸引一些旅游美元.
Zimbabwe is making a major pitch to attract fans to the famous Victoria Falls. The head of its government tourism agency, Shingi Munyeza, acknowledges that his country is experiencing economic and political problems but says these will not affect visitors.
津巴布韦下大决心以吸引球迷前往维多利亚大瀑布. 国家旅游中介机构负责人圣基穆尼萨承认, 他的国家正在经历经济和政治问题, 但他说这问题不会影响游客.
"A guest is always worried about their safety. On the safety issues we can actually be very comfortable and tell them that you will not be affected by what is going on," Munyeza said. "However, if there is some moral objection of what often happens, that as business people we are not able to address."
穆尼萨说, “一个游客总是担忧他们的安全, 在安全的问题上, 实际上我们可以很自信地告诉他们你不会受事情的影响, 但若对经常发生的事情有道德上的异议, 作为商人,这事我们无法处理.
As kick-off approaches, Africa's always exuberant soccer fans are getting increasingly excited. Organizers acknowledge that a lot of work remains to be done but everyone here at least is confident that Africa will be ready.
随着开球的临近, 总是热情洋溢的非洲球迷越来越兴奋. 组织者承认有很多工作有待完成, 但至少这里的每一个人自信南非会做好准备.
VOA Standard English/By Scott Bobb/Durban/10 June 2008
P.S. If I made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips. Thanks a million.
