新冠疫情下东京奥运的艰难抉择(精读素材)

文章导读：
我们将见证一届没有现场观众的奥运会吗？
持续蔓延的疫情给国际体坛带来了诸多不确定性，许多赛事宣布取消、延期或异地举行，而最大的问号，依旧是今夏的东京奥运会能否如期举办。

近日，世卫组织和国际奥委会讨论了东京奥运会“空场”举行的设想，我们会见证一场没有观众的奥运会吗？其中存在哪些困难和风险？
As Coronavirus Spreads, Olympics Face Ticking Clock
and a Tough Call
As the coronavirus continues to spread, sporting events without fans are edging toward becoming a kind of new normal. But the biggest question on the 2020 sports calendar remains the Olympics in Japan, where competition is scheduled to begin July 22.
Last week, the World Health Organization participated in a conference call with dozens of medical officers for the international sports federations. The discussion turned to worst-case scenarios for the Olympic Games, and the risks and benefits of a fan-free Olympics.
According to people familiar with the matter, an expert from the W.H.O. on the call said that the most important thing would be to create a screening process for participants, athletes, fans and others, and to create a risk profile of countries and regions. Participants on the call also discussed the different risk profiles of indoor and outdoor events, as well as those for contact and non-contact sports.
It remains unclear how any decision about the Olympics would unfold if officials in Tokyo conclude they have to alter plans for the Games.
Holding the Olympics without spectators, and having to refund ticket sales, could cost Tokyo organizers some $850 million, accordi ng to the organizing committee’s budget documents.
生词好句：
1.ticking clock 滴答作响的钟tick v. 发出滴答作响声（if a clock or watch ticks, it makes a short repeated sound）
The old clock ticked noisily.
那个老式钟滴滴答答很响。

2.a tough call 一个艰难的决定（a difficult decision）tough adj.艰难的，棘手的
（difficult）
It was a tough race. 这是一场艰难的比赛。

call v./n.打电话，召唤
It’s/That’s a tough call.
这是一个艰难的决定。

3.edge UK /edʒ/ US /edʒ/ vi.渐渐移动（to move gradually with several small movements, or to make something do this）
He was edging away from the crowd.
他从人群中慢慢走开。

edge n. 边缘
4.normal UK /ˈnɔːməl/ US /ˈnɔːməl/ n.常态（the usual state, level or amount）back/return to normal 一切恢复如常
5.sports calendar 体育日程表（sports schedule）calendar n. 日历，日程表（all the events or dates in a year that are important for a particular organization, person or activity）
6.be scheduled to do sth. 被安排做某事schedule vt.计划（to plan that sth. will happen at a particular time）
be scheduled on/for a certain date 某事被安排在某时
be scheduled on June 被安排在六月
be scheduled for Monday 被安排在周一
7.conference call 电话会议（a telephone call in which several people in different places can all talk to each other）teleconference n. 电话会议，远程会议
8.international sports federations 世界体育联合会
9.turn to sth. 转向……
10.worst-case scenario 最坏的情形case n. 情形（situation）
scenario n. 情境，设想
scene n. 场景
possible/likely scenario 可能的情形
Under a likely scenario, world population will double by 2050.
在一种可能的情形下，到2050年，世界人口将会翻倍。

11.screening process 筛查流程screen vt.筛选，筛查（to do tests on a lot of people to find out whether they have a particular illness）
12.profile UK /ˈprəʊfaɪl/ US /ˈproʊfaɪl/ n.概述，简要介绍（a short description that gives important details about a person, a group of people, or a place）a job profile 求职简历
13.It remains unclear… 某物依然尚不清晰
14.unfold UK /ʌnˈfəʊld/ US /ʌnˈfoʊld/ vi. 展开，打开（to open sth.）
fold v.折叠
As the story unfolds, we learn more about Edison’s childhood.
随着故事的展开，我们了解了更多有关爱迪生的童年。

15.alter plans 改变方案alter vt. 改变
16.hold (a certain event) 举行一场……的比赛
17.spectator UK /spekˈteɪtə/ US /spekˈteɪtər/ n. 观众（someone who watches an event, especially a sports event）
18.refund UK /ˈriːfʌnd/ US /ˈriːfʌnd/ vt. 退款（to give someone their money back, especially because they're not satisfied with the goods or services they have paid for）原文翻译：
As Coronavirus Spreads, Olympics Face Ticking Clock
and a Tough Call
敲响倒计时：新冠疫情不减，奥运会面临艰难抉择As the coronavirus continues to spread, sporting events without fans are edging toward becoming a kind of new normal. But the biggest question on the 2020 sports calendar remains the Olympics in Japan, where competition is scheduled to begin July 22.
随着新冠疫情持续蔓延，没有现场观众的体育赛事正逐渐成为一种新常态。

但2020年度体育赛事日程表上最大的不确定性依旧是原定于7月22日开幕的日本奥运会。

Last week, the World Health Organization participated in a conference call with dozens of medical officers for the international sports federations. The discussion turned to worst-case scenarios for the Olympic Games, and the risks and benefits of a fan-free Olympics.
上周，世界卫生组织与国际体育联合会的数十名医务官员进行了电话会议。

双方的讨论随后转向了奥运会可能出现的最坏情形，以及一场没有观众的奥运会存在的风险和好处。

According to people familiar with the matter, an expert from the W.H.O. on the call said that the most important thing would be to create a screening process for participants, athletes, fans and others, and to create a risk profile of countries and regions. Participants on the call also discussed the different risk profiles of indoor and outdoor events, as well as those for contact and non-contact sports.
据知情人士透露，一位世卫组织专家在电话中说道，最重要的是要为参会人员、运动员、观众和其余人创建筛查流程，并对各个国家和地区进行风险概况评估。

电话会议的与会者还讨论了室内和室外运动项目、接触性和非接触性赛事的不同风险概况。

It remains unclear how any decision about the Olympics would unfold if officials in Tokyo conclude they have to alter plans for the Games.
目前尚不清楚的是，如果东京方面给出的结论是他们不得不调整奥运会计划，那么与奥运会相关的每一项决定会受到何等影响。

Holding the Olympics without spectators, and having to refund ticket sales, could cost T okyo organizers some $850 million, according to the organizing committee’s
budget documents.
根据奥组委的预算文件，在没有观众并需要支付退票费用的情况下举办奥运会，可能会让东京奥运会主办方损失约8.5亿美元。