Respect, admiration abound in Shanghai

时间：2007-10-06 00:41:08

（单词翻译:单击）

SHANGHAI, Oct. 5 - Competition in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games was in full swing Thursday as intellectually disadvantaged athletes from 164 nations and regions participated at a number of venues1, pushing the limits of their own bodies.

 

Zhou Shuyun, 18, a Shanghai athlete, joined dozens of her peers in a motor skills training program designed for people with severe intellectual disabilities.

 

The slim girl, with a big medal swinging in front of her chest, sat cheerfully on the sidelines, letting out periodic shrieks2 of joy.

 

Zhou, who is too weak to participate in competitive events, had minutes before pushed a ball as hundreds of encouraging spectators and family members cheered her on. She could barely speak to communicate with other competitors.

 

"It (the ball push) is the simplest thing for an ordinary person - but a miracle for my daughter," said Zhou's mother Xu Yi.

 

Since the girl, the only child of the family, was diagnosed with serious disability at the age of two, the mother has been caring for her full time at home. The teenager relies on assistance from others to eat and walk.

 

"It's hard to describe how heartbreaking it was when I learned of my daughter's disability," Xu recalled. "But after so many years I became tranquil3 with that reality and feel happy for each minor4 bit of progress she has made."

 

She added that society has become inclusive to its weakest members, especially in recent years. Activities have been organized and care centers for the well being of those with intellectual disabilities have sprung up across Shanghai.

 

"Everyone here is very excited and my daughter had been talking all the way to the sports center," said the mother of Zhou Lepei, 27, a Shanghai athlete with a severe intellectual disability, who also participated in the program Thursday.

 

The Shanghai Special Olympics, the first of its kind held in Asia, has been a great success thus far. "Shanghai and China have given us a new benchmark," said Jim Grossman, co-chair of 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which will be held in Idaho, the United States.

 

"We won't be able to match what China has done, frankly5."

 

Stunned6 by Tuesday's phenomenal opening ceremony, Grossman, leading half of the board members for the Winter Games, said his emotional highlight was when two intellectually disabled athletes slogged through sections of the Great Wall restructured by hundreds of martial7 artists. "We had the hearts and spirits (there)," he said.

 

A veteran of the Special Olympics movement, the co-chair has witnessed China's growth from a "society that didn't recognize people with intellectual disabilities" to one of the "leaders the world in respect, understanding, appreciation8 and value for all the members of society".

 

"You have done in seven years what took 30 years in the US," he said. "I can only imagine what will happen in seven years from now."

 
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1 venues c277c9611f0a0f19beb3658245ac305f     
n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点
参考例句：
  • The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
  • Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网
2 shrieks e693aa502222a9efbbd76f900b6f5114     
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声
  • For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来， 报纸上， 广播里， 舞台上， 会场上的声嘶力竭，装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
3 tranquil UJGz0     
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的
参考例句：
  • The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
  • The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。
4 minor e7fzR     
adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修
参考例句：
  • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
  • I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
5 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说
参考例句：
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。
6 stunned 735ec6d53723be15b1737edd89183ec2     
adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
  • The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。
7 martial bBbx7     
adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的
参考例句：
  • The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
  • The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。
8 appreciation Pv9zs     
n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨
参考例句：
  • I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
  • I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

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