It's been almost seven years to the day since we first heard that Beijing would be the host city for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Seven years of frantic construction， massive social and economic changes and intense preparation. And now， they're here. Like as not， by the time you get your hands on this issue the 2008 Summer Olympics will be underway， the Olympic flame burning bright in Beijing National Stadium. （配圖：鳥巢000）

距北京成功申辦第29屆奧運(yùn)會已有近七年光景。七年來，工程修建如火如荼，社會經(jīng)濟(jì)變化不斷，籌辦工作緊鑼密鼓?，F(xiàn)在，奧運(yùn)觸手可及。喜歡與否，當(dāng)你手捧本期“雙語”時(shí)，2008年夏季奧運(yùn)會即將開幕，奧運(yùn)圣火也將在鳥巢熊熊燃燒。

So， what does the month ahead have in store? In the three weeks stretching from the 8th of August through to the 24th， Beijing and her fellow Olympic cities will play host to 302 events in 28 different sports， 10，500 athletes from 205 countries， and an expected 500，000 tourists from all over the world. In short， it's going to be the biggest party China's ever seen.

那這個(gè)月的預(yù)留曲目到底是什么？從8月8日到8月24日為期三周的時(shí)間里，北京及其協(xié)辦城市將為28項(xiàng)運(yùn)動(dòng)舉行共302個(gè)賽事，接待來自205個(gè)國家的10500位運(yùn)動(dòng)員，預(yù)計(jì)吸引來自世界各地的游客50萬人次?？偠灾@將是中國史上最大的盛會。

When the countdown clock finally hits 00.00.00. on the 8th， all of China's hard work will come to fruition. Former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch has said that he believes the Beijing games will be \"the best in Olympic history\"， and if everything goes to plan， he may well be right.

在8號這天，當(dāng)奧運(yùn)倒計(jì)時(shí)走到00.00.00 時(shí)，中國所有的努力成果都會得以呈現(xiàn)。前國際奧委會主席胡安#8226;安東尼奧#8226;薩馬蘭奇曾表示他深信北京奧運(yùn)會將成為奧運(yùn)史上最出色的一屆奧運(yùn)會；如果一切順利的話，他的話將成為現(xiàn)實(shí)。

In order to celebrate， Bilingual Time would like to introduce you to some of the countries and athletes who will be coming to Beijing to compete with and against the Chinese team in the name of the Olympic spirit.

為了慶祝這次盛會，本期，《雙語時(shí)代》將會為您介紹一些來京參加盛會的國家及運(yùn)動(dòng)員；秉承著奧林匹克精神，他們將與中國隊(duì)同臺競技，一決高下。

United States of America 美國

The American team will be looking to repeat the success of the Athens games – 102 medals in total， 36 of them gold. Leading the charge will be swimming superstar Michael Phelps， looking to match the eight medals he won in 2004， and the rest of the US swim team.

美國代表團(tuán)有望重現(xiàn)雅典奧運(yùn)會的輝煌：共獲得102枚獎(jiǎng)牌，其中36枚金牌。其中首當(dāng)其沖的是游泳名將邁克爾#8226;菲爾普斯和美國游泳隊(duì)，前者有望再次續(xù)寫勇奪八枚獎(jiǎng)牌的輝煌。

Other events in which the Americans look strong include Gymnastics， with 16-year-old world number 1 Shawn Johnson in charge of a team that claimed seven medals at the 2007 World Championships， and Track and Field. With stars like Phelps， Johnson， Tyson Gaye (the fastest man in the world over 100m) and beach volleyball titans Kerri Smart and Misty May-Treanor， the US are looking like the team to beat at this year's Olympics.（置圖片02）

美國其它強(qiáng)項(xiàng)包括體操和田徑。前者有世界排名第一的16歲小將肖恩#8226;約翰遜，她曾帶隊(duì)在2007年世界錦標(biāo)賽上奪得七枚獎(jiǎng)牌。有著運(yùn)動(dòng)名將菲爾普斯、約翰遜、泰森#8226;蓋伊（100米短跑名將，世界排名第一）以及沙灘排球黃金組合凱利#8226;斯馬特和米斯緹#8226;梅翠娜，美國代表團(tuán)本屆奧運(yùn)會看似戰(zhàn)無不勝。

Keeth Erinn Smart

基斯#8226;斯馬特 艾琳#8226;斯馬特

Nationality:American

國籍：美國

Sport: Fencing (Men's Individual Team Sabre / Women's Individual Team Foil)

比賽項(xiàng)目：擊劍 （男子佩劍個(gè)人團(tuán)體/女子花劍個(gè)人團(tuán)體）

D.O.B: 1978/07/28 / 1980/12/01

出生日期：1978/07/28 ，1980/12/01

Height: 6'0' / 5'7'

身高： 6英尺，5英尺7英寸

Weight: 155lbs / 135lbs

體重：155磅/135磅

Getting Started: The Smart siblings both took up fencing at former US Olympian Peter Westbrook's school in New York 16 years ago. While younger sister Erinn initially displayed the greater enthusiasm for the sport， both soon became enthralled with life on the piste. After a couple of years struggling with foil， Keeth switched to sabre and soon found himself much more comfortable in the sport.

奧運(yùn)啟程：斯馬特兄妹都是16年前在紐約由美國前奧運(yùn)選手彼得#8226;韋斯特布魯克開設(shè)的擊劍俱樂部接觸到擊劍的，雖然開始的時(shí)候妹妹對這項(xiàng)運(yùn)動(dòng)表現(xiàn)出更大的熱情，但隨后兩人都被擊劍場深深吸引住了。在花劍方面苦苦掙扎了幾年之后，基思轉(zhuǎn)練佩劍，并發(fā)現(xiàn)自己更適合后者。

Previous Olympics: Both Smarts took part in their first Olympics during the 2000 games in Sydney – Keeth as a member of the First Team and Erinn as an Alternate.Four years later in Athens they were both fully-fledged team members.

奧運(yùn)戰(zhàn)績：斯馬特兄妹第一次參加奧運(yùn)會還是2000年的悉尼奧運(yùn)會：基思是第一代表隊(duì)的一員；艾琳作為替補(bǔ)選手。四年之后的雅典奧運(yùn)會，他們卻都已羽翼豐滿，可以獨(dú)當(dāng)一面。

Interesting Facts逸聞趣事

- Erinn wears something red in every match; a red bracelet she received at a tournament in China， and a red shirt or other item of clothing.

- In March 2003， Keeth became the first US fencer to reach the World Number 1 ranking in his discipline.

- Their father Thomas covered several Summer and Winter Games as a reporter for Sports Illustrated.

- At the Sydney Games in 2000， Keeth and some friends entertained their teammates by recreating the light saber duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from The Empire Strikes Back.

- 艾琳每逢比賽都會穿點(diǎn)兒“紅”：在中國參加聯(lián)賽時(shí)收到的紅色手鐲、紅色T恤或其它衣物；

- 2003年3月，基思是成為世界首級的美國佩劍第一人；

- 他們的父親托馬斯曾作為《體育畫報(bào)》的記者報(bào)道過幾屆夏季和冬季奧運(yùn)會；

- 2000年的悉尼奧運(yùn)會，基思和朋友改編《帝國反擊戰(zhàn)》中盧克#8231;天行者和達(dá)斯#8226;維德的光劍對決來娛樂隊(duì)友

Great Britain 英國

Despite the loss of royal equestrian Olympian Zara Phillips， Great Britain is finally starting to show potential as an Olympic contender. With one of the strongest track teams the UK has ever fielded， the Brits have a real chance at dominating the sprinting and long-distance events this time around. Current Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe is gunning for her first Olympic medal， and both the men's 4x100m relay and womens4x400m relay teams look set to contend for medals.

盡管缺少了來自皇家的馬術(shù)奧運(yùn)選手札拉#8226;菲力普斯，英國最終表現(xiàn)出了其作為奧運(yùn)競技強(qiáng)者的潛力。英國此次組成了堪稱其史上最強(qiáng)的田徑團(tuán)隊(duì)之一，有望稱霸長短跑賽場?，F(xiàn)有的馬拉松世界記錄保持者保拉#8226;拉德克利夫正在為其第一枚奧運(yùn)獎(jiǎng)牌而躍躍欲試；男子4 x 100米和女子4x400接力賽團(tuán)隊(duì)也不會空手而歸。

With two reigning world champion rowing crews and several strong sailors， Team GB are more than likely to continue their dominance on the water.

有著兩支世界衛(wèi)冕冠軍的賽艇隊(duì)和優(yōu)秀的選手，英國隊(duì)將會繼續(xù)維持其水上霸主地位。

Andy Murray

安迪#8226;穆雷

Nationality: Scottish

國籍：蘇格蘭

Sport: Tennis

比賽項(xiàng)目：網(wǎng)球

D.O.B:1987/05/15

出生年月：1987/05/15

Height: 6'3'

身高：6英尺3英寸

Weight: 175lbs

體重：175磅

Getting Started: British tennis star Andy Murray first picked up a racquet aged two， playing with his older brother Jamie. At the age of 15 he moved to Barcelona and trained at the prestigious Sanchez-Casal Academy. In September 2004， he won his first major title when he won the junior US Open.

奧運(yùn)啟程：英國網(wǎng)球明星安迪#8226;穆雷在兩歲的時(shí)候就開始拿起球拍，同哥哥杰米“競技”。15歲的時(shí)候，他搬到巴塞羅那，并在享有盛譽(yù)的桑切斯#8226;卡薩爾網(wǎng)球?qū)W院接收訓(xùn)練。2004年9月，他第一次贏得美國公開賽少年組冠軍。

Previous Olympics: This may be Murray's first Olympics， but he is no stranger to the limelight. Since turning pro in 2005， Murray has contended in all the major tennis Grand Slams， and reached a career high when he made it to the Wimbledon quarter finals in June 2008.

奧運(yùn)戰(zhàn)績：這次或許是穆雷首次參戰(zhàn)奧運(yùn)，但他一直以來備受關(guān)注。自從2005年轉(zhuǎn)為職業(yè)網(wǎng)球手以來，穆雷出現(xiàn)在爭奪網(wǎng)球大滿貫的各個(gè)主要賽場，并在2008年6月溫布爾登網(wǎng)球錦標(biāo)賽四分之一決賽時(shí)，達(dá)到了他職業(yè)生涯的一個(gè)高峰。

Interesting Facts逸聞趣事

- At the age of 13， Murray was offered a trial with Glasgow Rangers Football Club.

- Murray declares his nationality to be 'both Scottish and British'. He is equally proud of both.

- 穆雷13歲的時(shí)候曾收到格拉斯高流浪隊(duì)足球俱樂部的試用通知；

- 穆雷稱自己的國籍“既是蘇格蘭又是英國”，他為兩者都感到自豪。

Russia 俄羅斯

Second place on the medals table in Athens， the Russians will be looking to dismiss claims that they have a weaker team this time around than in previous Olympics. Although several of their big-name stars have since retired from international competition， their replacements are a determined and talented bunch. A characteristically strong Field showing sees 2004 women's pole vault gold medallist Yelena Isinbayeva and medal-winning long and triple jumper Tatyana Lebedeva at the spearhead of a solid team.

位居雅典奧運(yùn)會金牌榜亞軍之位，俄國此次要攻破他們已技不如前的言論。雖然俄國一些大牌體育明星已經(jīng)退出國際賽事，但是接替他們的是一支既有決心又有才能的隊(duì)伍。田徑強(qiáng)項(xiàng)特征鮮明：2004年女子撐竿跳金牌得主葉蓮娜#8226;伊辛巴耶娃、跳遠(yuǎn)和三級跳獎(jiǎng)牌得主塔提亞娜#8226;萊貝德娃首當(dāng)其沖。

Dmitry Sautin， who has won more Olympic diving medals than anyone else in history， and Gleb Galperin lead the Russian hopes on the springboard， while the synchronised swimming team look set to continue the gold medal streak they began in 2000.

迪米特#8226;薩烏丁是奧運(yùn)史上贏得跳水獎(jiǎng)牌最多的人；格列布#8226;加爾佩林在跳水方面被寄予厚望，而花樣游泳隊(duì)幾乎肯定會蟬聯(lián)她們始于2000年的冠軍。

Yelena Soboleva

葉蓮娜#8226;索伯列娃

Nationality: Russian

國籍：俄羅斯

Sport: 1，500 metres

比賽項(xiàng)目：1500米

D.O.B: 1982/08/03

出生年月：1982/08/03

Height: 5'6'

身高：5英尺6英寸

Weight:119 lbs

體重：119磅

Getting Started: Soboleva displayed talent from an early age， when she would accompany her local running coach. After several years running in junior competitions， she made her Senior debut just after the Athens Olympics in 2004.

奧運(yùn)啟程：索伯列娃很小的時(shí)候就表現(xiàn)出跑步的天分，當(dāng)時(shí)她還跟著當(dāng)?shù)氐馁惻芙叹氁黄鹋懿健Ｔ趨⒓恿撕芏嗌倌杲M的比賽之后，就在2004年雅典奧運(yùn)會之后她首次參加了成年組比賽。

Previous Olympics: 2008 marks Soboleva's first Olympics. As well as striving for Russia's 9th Olympic 1，500mmedal， she will be looking to break her own world record in the event.

奧運(yùn)戰(zhàn)績：2008年將是索伯列娃首次參戰(zhàn)奧運(yùn)。在為俄羅斯1500米第九枚奧運(yùn)獎(jiǎng)牌奮戰(zhàn)的同時(shí)，她也很有可能將打破自己所保持的現(xiàn)有的世界記錄。

Interesting Fact逸聞趣事

- After a series of bad races in 2004， Soboleva quit athletics， only to be convinced to return to the track a month later. Now， she always finishes the season with a month's holiday in her hometown.

- Watchout for the fierce on-track rivalry between Soboleva and closest rival MaryamYusuf Jamal of Bahrain. In 2007 they met six times， Soboleva winning twice and Jamal coming out on top in the remaining four races.

-在2004年一系列不良表現(xiàn)之后，索伯烈娃停止了運(yùn)動(dòng)員生涯；一個(gè)月之后才被說服回到田徑場。現(xiàn)在，每個(gè)賽季后她都會在家鄉(xiāng)休整一個(gè)月。

-留意索伯烈娃和來自巴林的勁敵馬麗#8226;尤索夫#8226;賈馬爾在田徑場上的激烈競爭。光2007年她們就在賽場上相遇6次，索伯烈娃贏了前兩次，賈馬爾贏了后四次。

Germany 德國

Another country with the potential to cause serious upsets， the 2008 German team is considerably stronger than the one that competed in Athens. Xu Huaiwen looks set to lead an assault on the podium in both singles and doubles badminton， two-time world foil champion Peter Joppich heads up a solid fencing squad and trampolinists Anna Dogonadze and Henrik Stehlik will be seeking to defend the medals they won in 2004.

德國是另一可“掀起波瀾”的國家，2008年德國奧運(yùn)團(tuán)隊(duì)的實(shí)力遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出出征雅典的隊(duì)伍。徐懷雯勢在朝羽毛球單雙打領(lǐng)獎(jiǎng)臺發(fā)起進(jìn)攻；兩次世界花劍冠軍皮特#8226;約皮赫使擊劍隊(duì)實(shí)力不俗；蹦床運(yùn)動(dòng)員安娜#8226;多戈納澤和亨里克#8226;斯特里克力保他們在2004年贏得的獎(jiǎng)牌。

Track and Field also looks promising for Germany， with several contenders in women's throwing events looking pretty sharp. With two reigning world champions (discus thrower Franka Dietzsch and hammer supremo Betty Heidler) and up-and-comers like javelineer Steffi Nerius and shot-putter Nadine Kleinert， it would be a surprise if Germany doesn't come away with a respectable medal haul.

德國的田徑也很令人期待，女子的投擲項(xiàng)目有著實(shí)力很強(qiáng)的參賽者。兩位衛(wèi)冕世界冠軍：鐵餅運(yùn)動(dòng)員弗蘭卡#8226;迪茨奇和“鏈球第一人”貝蒂#8226;海德勒， 希望之星標(biāo)槍運(yùn)動(dòng)員斯蒂夫#8226;內(nèi)莉斯， 和鉛球運(yùn)動(dòng)員娜汀#8226;克雷納特， 如果這次德國沒有取得數(shù)目可觀的獎(jiǎng)牌那才叫人驚訝呢。

Fabian Hambuechen

費(fèi)比安#8226;漢布岑

Nationality: German

國籍：德國

Sport: Gymnastics

比賽項(xiàng)目：體操

D.O.B: 1987/10/25

出生年月：1987/10/25

Height: 5'5'

身高：5英尺5英寸

Weight: 135 lbs

體重：135磅

Getting Started: Fabian Hambuechen (or Fabi to his friends) didn't really have much of a choice about becoming a gymnast. Both his brother and father represented Germany in the discipline， and his mother Beate competed in track and field. His first major international appearance took place at the 2002 Junior Europeans， where he finished first on the parallel bars.

奧運(yùn)啟程：費(fèi)比安#8226;漢布岑，或是朋友口中的“費(fèi)比”，似乎注定成為體操運(yùn)動(dòng)員。他的父親和哥哥都曾代表德國體操隊(duì)出征；他的母親貝雅特則競技于田徑賽場。他第一次在大型的國際賽事上露臉是在2002年的歐洲體操錦標(biāo)賽少年組比賽上，在那次比賽上，他取得雙桿第一名的成績。

Previous Olympics: Hambuechen was the youngest member of the German team at the 2004 Olympics， where he had to wear glasses during his routine due to a broken contact lens just prior to the event.

奧運(yùn)戰(zhàn)績：漢布岑是參加2004年奧運(yùn)會德國代表團(tuán)中年齡最小的運(yùn)動(dòng)員，由于會前一只隱形眼鏡壞掉了，他在比賽時(shí)不得不戴框架眼鏡。

Interesting Facts逸聞趣事

- Hambuechen always carries around a tub of Japanese chalk with him when he competes – he says it is the best chalk in the world and gives him a much better grip on the apparatus.

- His friendly attitude and habit of hugging and encouraging fellow competitors regardless of nationality has earned him the nickname 'Gymnastics' little ambassador' and led to him being named Germany's Sportsman of the Year for 2007.

-漢布岑比賽的時(shí)候都會帶著一盒日本鎂粉，他說那是世界上最棒的鎂粉，能幫助他更好地抓杠；

-友好的態(tài)度，擁抱的習(xí)慣，和不計(jì)國籍地鼓勵(lì)競爭者，使他贏得了“體操小使者”的昵稱，并使他獲得2007年德國年度運(yùn)動(dòng)員。