August 15, 2008 1:45 PM
You're a glaring noontime sun.
I've gotten my hands on a copy of the "Beijing Olympic Games Training
Series: A Conversational English Reader." BOCOG -- the Beijing Olympic
governing body -- is using it as a manual to teach volunteers how to
react to any situation that may arise during the Games. Some of those
situations just happen to be a bit unusual.Today's text is reproduced in its entirety and is not edited. All non-sequiturs and grammatical errors are theirs. The text is titled "In a bar at the International Zone" from the "At the International Zone of the Olympic Village" section of the reader. Today's text is apparently an example of how medalists will celebrate their Olympic accomplishments. Enjoy:
Local volunteer: My friends, I am sorry I've talked too much today, but I still feel I've a lot more to say to you. Well, because of the 2008 Olympic Games, we've gathered together here in Beijing, got to know each other and established great friendship between us. Now, to this memory let us drink another toast of honor. Cheers!
Foreign athlete #1: Very nice speech you've delivered. It remind me of the many things I have experienced all these exciting days. I never drink but let me take this glass with you today, to the success of the Olympic Games, to the prosperity of Beijing, and to the everlasting existence of our friendship. Cheers!
Local volunteer: You two have really done a great job in the competition. I bet a big celebration has long been prepared for you in your country and your families are expecting your triumphant return in your hometown.
Foreign athlete #2: Yes. I can see in my mind's eye my little daughter and my dear wife waving at me with the crowd in the airport, welcoming me back home. I called them this morning and they told me that they had watched every live telecasted event of the Olympic Games.
Foreign athlete #1: They must have noticed me, too, at the medal ceremony. That must have been a very patriotic moment to everybody but, quite strangely, my mind was literally a complete blank! I did not see anything, I did not hear anything and I don't even remember singing our anthem. Anyway, it is history now. I guess the TV cameramen must have given me some close-up shots.
Local volunteer: You bet. On the front page of Sports Weekly, there was a sizable picture that shows the moment you were kissing your gold medal. I believe you were on the headline news too in your own country.
Foreign athlete #2: They must have been very beautiful and eye-catching. Indeed, we should drink to that special moment. Drain the glass!
Foreign athlete #1: Sure. Nothing under the sun can be compared with this, the happiest moment of my life. These are exactly the lines I dropped that night in my diary. They are from the bottom of my heart.
Foreign athlete #2: Highly problematic! Wasn't your wedding the happiest moment of your life? Your wife would feel disappointed to hear you say so.
Foreign athlete #1: Come on. You know what I mean. Let's drink to your silver medal. You came so close to the Olympic championship.
Local volunteer: Yes, so close. but don't be sad, my friend. You'll be there in four years. And you'll find your name on the front page.
Foreign athlete #2: I don't care if they print my name on the front page, although I do not see any reason to disapprove of that. The fact is that I have competed in the Olympic Games representing my motherland. I have no doubt at all that my parents, my brother and all my friends are proud of me.
Local volunteer: Of course they are. As a friend and witness, you are the pride in my heart, too. Your presence and that of others have made the Olympic Movement so wonderfully charming. To participate is more important than to win a gold medal. You're a hero as long as you have tried your best.
Foreign athlete #2: As an Olympic champion holding a gold medal, and as a top athlete with a world record under your name, where are you heading for next?
Foreign athlete #1: Being at the top of the world is nice but transient. It's true that I cannot help wondering where to go after securing an Olympic gold medal. I guess I'll start to prepare myself for the London Olympic Games. I'll prove to the world that I am a midday sun instead of a setting one.
Local volunteer: Yes. You're a glaring noontime sun. You are over our heads, beaming and shining and blazing.
Foreign athlete #2: All right! Let me propose another toast to our glaring noontime sun!
All: To the sun!
Foreign athlete #1: To China, the rising morning sun!
Local volunteer: Thanks. To China!
All: Gambei!
Thoughts:
-For someone to watch all of NBC's televised coverage, you might need a second lifetime. Or picture-in-picture-in-picture ad infinitum.
-The lines he "dropped" in his diary? Someone at BOCOG has Jay-Z on their iPod.
-Does Athlete #1 really consider a post-race dinner with BOCOG staff the happiest moment of his life?
-Is a glaring noontime sun a good thing?
October 7, 2010
3:48 AM
Elvia Dress writes:
I will be very curious to see the numbers on people who bought an iPad and also own an iPhone or iPod Touch versus those that don't.