The 2010 Winter Paralympics

二0一0年冬季殘障奧運Athletes show remarkable skill during the 10th Winter Paralympics 運動選手在溫哥華同場競技，技巧和速度展露無疑Skill and speed are on display as athletes compete in Vancouver by Lisa Holl Chang

Today several hundred athletes from 40 countries gather in Vancouver, BC. Like the Olympic athletes that came in February, these athletes have trained intensely for this competition. In contrast to the Olympic athletes, these athletes are blind, can’t walk, or have some other disability.
The preparations
Vancouver was announced the host city of the Olympics and Paralympics in July 2003. Canada has done many things to prepare for the Games since then. Educational programs in Canadian schools were held in November 2009 during Paralympic School Week. Students fell in love with Sumi, the Paralympic mascot, on his school visits. The Canadian Paralympic Committee website It’s the Real Deal features stories of athletes with disabilities.

The Paralympic Torch Relay began on March 3 in Ottawa, Canada. Six hundred people carried the specially designed torch on its 10-day journey. Today that torch will light up the BC Place in Vancouver during the Opening Ceremony.

The Sports
The 10th Winter Paralympics last from March 12 to 21. During these 10 days, athletes will compete in five sports. Each sport has been adapted to fit the athlete's needs. For example, in the skiing events, a sit-ski was developed for athletes unable to stand. Athletes sit on a seat on one ski and use short poles to move and balance.

Skiers with limited eyesight use regular ski equipment but have another skier who guides them. Wheelchair curling was introduced as a Paralympic Sport in the 2006 Winter Paralympics. Athletes use their hands and poles, called delivery sticks, to position the 19.1-kg stones.

The athletes
The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is, without a doubt, the athletes themselves. They all have stories about overcoming physical challenges to excel in their sports. This coming week, extraordinary skills are sure to be displayed in Vancouver.

More Information
How do disabled people compete in the Paralympics? In the Biathlon for example, visually impaired athletes shoot at their targets by listening to sounds that direct them towards the bull's eye. In the ice-sledge hockey event, athletes sit on sledges with two sticks. One end of the sticks is used to move over the ice. The other end is used to pass and shoot the puck.

Grammar
The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is, without a doubt, the athletes themselves.
without a doubt=certainly
*The most inspiring element of the Paralympic Games is certainly the athletes themselves.
without a doubt=without doubt
*Without doubt, this is the best cake I've ever tasted.
without a doubt=no doubt
*The director's most recent movie is no doubt his strangest one.
without a doubt=beyond doubt or beyond a doubt.
*His idea is beyond doubt the craziest one.
without a doubt=beyond a shadow of doubt
*Beyond a shadow of doubt, Lisa is committed to her family.
without a doubt=certainly =without doubt =no doubt =beond doubt =beyond a shadow of doubt.

Vocabulary
intensively-密集地，强烈地 intensive-密集的，集中的。
*The city was bombed intensively and many were wounded.
*Our team worked intensively for the past week to meet the deadline.集中火力工作， 期限内
contrast-相反，差别悬殊的
* There's a distinct contrast between the styles of the two directors.
in contrast to something or someone-合谋对相反或有明显得反差。
* There's a distinct contrast between the styles of the two directors.
disabilities- 残障，障碍，残疾。dis-没有ability能力。
*The girl with multiple disabilities writes with a sound-activated computer. 声控
adapt-修改，改变，也指“适应”
*The cabinets of the house were adapted in order to accommodate the height of the owner.
*The chef adapted his menu to fit the appetite of his customers.
*We slowly adapted to the cold weather here.适应
balance-使平衡
*The acrobat balanced her body on the thin iron rope.
*You need to balance your work and personal life.
*The gymnast tried to keep her balance but fell off the beam.
excel- 超出，超越，excelled-超越他人 或超越
*The winners who excelled in the competition received national attention.受到
*The new software excelled beyond the competition when it came to functions.

Chat Room
disability- disable残障的
disability(most common use)/handicapped (less respect to people, only use for public area, such as parking / physically challenged(politically correct terms正确政治术语-to show respect to all kinds of people)
mental disable=mentally challenged.
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come over, coming over, came over
overcome, overcoming, overcame-克服，打败，征服
to be overcome-被压倒，被打败，被淹没
overcome with sadness被伤心难过淹没，=get choked up 喉咙哽塞，意味着感动得落泪。

The 2010 Winter Olympics

二0一0年冬季奧運Vancouver welcomes the world to this year's Winter Olympics 在本月展開的溫哥華冬奧裡，傑出的運動選手在雪與冰的天地一較高下Great athletes compete on snow and ice in Vancouver this month by Chip Ewald

For the second time in history, the Winter Olympics are being held in Canada. Beginning tomorrow, Vancouver, British Columbia, will host the 21st Winter Olympics for the next two weeks. Many of the world’s greatest athletes have gathered there to compete on snow and ice. These 2,500 athletes come from over 80 countries. In addition, over 350,000 fans will crowd into the Vancouver area to watch the competitions.

The venues
The city and the surrounding area have been busy preparing for the temporary increase in population. Figuring out where to put the thousands of visitors is not easy. Billions of dollars have been spent on constructing and improving housing, transportation, and event venues. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies – always amazing – will be held in BC Place in Vancouver. This gigantic stadium can seat 55,000 people under one roof. Typically, indoor venues can't hold a crowd that large. So this will be the first time in history that these special ceremonies will be indoors.

Most of the skiing events will be held in the Whistler area, 120 km north of Vancouver, Whistler's ski resort often ranks among the top ski resorts in North America. Its yearly average of 10m of snowfall makes it an ideal place for the snow events.

2010 Olympic logo
The host city is always responsible for creating its official Olympic logo. It should combine the city's soul with Olympic ideals. This year's symbol is based on an inukshuk-a stack of rocks used as a landmark. Native peoples in Canada have been constructing and using these in the Arctic for centuries. Building and using an inukshuk has always required people to work together. So these structures eventually came to represent teamwork, friendship and hope-perfectly fitting the Olympic spirit. The official Olympic Inukshuk stands on Whistler Mountain.
Since 1896, the Olympics have been bringing nations together through peaceful competition. This year, Vancouver is proud to carry on that tradition at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Grammar
350,000 people will be in the Vancouver area to watch the competitions.
crowd into-"to be" into
all of Debbie's books are on her desk.
All of Debbie's books are piled up on her desk.
During lunch time, many students are in the hallway.
Students swarm in the hallway during lunch time.
mob, flock, press, squeeze..... to describe the situation make the sentence more interesting and give life into it.

Vocabulary
host-做主人,主人,主办provide a place and things for event.
*Rio, Brazil beat Chicago and will host the 2016 Olympics.
*Our company will host a charity campaign in April.
figure out-想出来,弄出来.
*We need to figure out how to fund and start a new branch office.
*He finally figured out how to install the software after several tries.
typically-what usually happen(most of time doing)通常，一般而言或典型的，一般地
type- 形态，典型
*Victor typically checks his e-mail before the start of his work day.
*Typically, tickets to the singer's concerts sell out the first day. 很典型的。
ideals-(n)完全的典型或典范.(adj.)(常用複数)理想的
The couple shares the same ideals and works together as partners.
*Daniel is Andrea's ideal of a perfect husband.
landmark-地标land-土地, mark-标志 landmark doesn't have to be a big building.
Taipei 101 has become Taipei City's most recognized landmark.
Central Park is one of New York City's famous landmarks.
teamwork- 团队精神,团队合作.
Increasing our sales requires a lot of teamwork and efficient strategies.
*His excellent teamwork skills make him a great coach.

Chat Room
one of the greatest books of all time.複數型代表着一群体.
one of ...其中的一个
some of ....
many of ....
one of the greatest books.
Many of the world's greatest athletes.一群世界顶级的运动员.
one of the prettiest girls I know.
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spirit-ghost 灵魂,幽灵.or refer to feeling of anticipation and excitement.
Olympic spirit, X'mas spirit.奥林匹克精神,圣诞心情
spirits-心情
in good spirits 好心情
in bad spirits-坏心情,
美国人迷信Friday, the 13th 是不祥的日子,仅量少出门,少出外活动.
down on your (his,their) luck -运气很差That's just his (their) luck-运气不好
in luck-好运当头,好运来了,运气好.