英语四级听力美文第16篇:OlympicGames
Everyfouryears,thebestathletesfromcountriesaroundtheworldcometogetherinthespiritofpeaceandfriendshiptocompeteintheOlympicGames.
WiththelightingoftheOlympicflamethegamesbegin—theOlympicspiritkeptalive.
ThatflamehasbeenbroughtmanythousandsofmilesbyrelayrunnersallthewayfromOlympia,inWesternGreece,wheretheceremonybegan2700yearsago.
Thissimpleceremony,andthelightingofthetorch,isthesparkthatrenewstheOlympicflamewhereverthegamesareplayed.
ThegamessymbolizedtheearlyGreeks’idealofman’sunity,theirvisionofpeace,andofhumanperfection.
TheOlympicbeganasareligiousceremony.
TheFirstGamesinrecordedhistorytookplaceintheyear776BC.
ThiswasthetimeoftheWesternZhouperiodinChina.
AlltheGreekcity-statesparticipated.
StatesatwarwitheachotherwouldendhostilitiesforthedurationoftheGames.
TheOlympicmottoisuniversallyacceptedas“Swifter,Higher,Stronger.”
OneathletefromthegameshostcountrytakesanoathattheOpeningCeremonyonbehalfofallthecompetingathletes:"Inthenameofallcompetitors,IpromisethatweshalltakepartintheseOlympicgames,respectingandabidingbytheruleswhichgovernthem,inthetruespiritofsportsmanship,forthegloryofsportandthehonorofourteams.”
Inancienttimes,winnerswerecrownedwithwreathsofthesacredolive.
TheirnameswereproclaimedthroughouttheGreekcity-states.
Thingshavenotchangedmuchinthisregard.
Today,firstplacewinnersareawardedgoldmedals,secondplacewinners,silver,andthirdplacegetsthebronze.
And,asinancienttimes,Olympicstarsbecomeinternationallyfamous.
LetushopethatthislivingexperienceofpeaceandfriendshipbetweenallthepeoplesoftheworldthatbeganinOlympia,inancientGreece,willcontinueformanycenturiestocome.
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