8.16-奥运会，文明冲突的战场？.doc

Time to enjoy an old-fashioned clash of civilisations 奥运会，文明冲突的战场？ [1]The worlds attention will be focused on the hosts and challengers China going into the ring against defending champs, the U-S-of-A. For the first time in two decades there is an ideological battle at the top of the leaderboard. The Olympics, once again, will be the chosen battleground for a clash of civilisations. [1]这次，世人的注意力将放在主办方中国与金牌榜卫冕冠军美国的较量上。这将是奖牌榜上20年来首次上演的一场意识形态斗争。奥运会将再次成为文明冲突的战场。n my youth，we were encouraged to support the Western Alliance against the Eastern Bloc. We would cheer Mark Spitz and be downcast when the commentator uttered that saddest of phrases, and that completes an East German one-two-three. In the 1970s it seemed to matter. [2]年轻的时候，我们被号召支持西方联盟反对东方集团。我们会为美国泳将马克·施皮茨欢呼喝彩，而当评论员说东德运动员获胜的时候，我们又会黯然神伤。在上世纪70年代，这似乎恨重要。Certainly, the two main competitors, and competing ideologies, thought as much when they exchanged boycotts in 1980 and 84 and the Games became so politicised and divisive that they were incapable of being properly staged. A block that was wondrously unplugged by the downfall of the Berlin Wall. [3]当然，两个主要竞争对手和两种对立的意识形态之间的斗争是针锋相对的，它们分别在1980年莫斯科奥运会和1984年洛杉矾奥运会抵制了对方，而奥运会也因为变得过于政冶化和分裂而无法再正常举行。然而，随着柏林墙的倒塌，这个障碍被神奇地拆除了。The Olympics were back on track, but somehow less relevant. Barcelona was a joyous celebration, but lacked edge. Atlanta was a mistake. Sydney was again fun and even featured a fraternal spat in the pool between the Aussies and the Yanks. Athens was quiet. Now the games afoot again and it promises to be a darned close-run thing. [4]后来，奥运会又回到了原有的轨道，但变得不再那么重要。巴塞罗那奥运会是一次欢乐的庆祝大会，却缺少特色。亚特兰大奥运会是一个错误。悉尼奥运会又再次具有了娱乐性质，澳大利亚人和美国人在泳池中还展开了一场友好争年。雅典奥运会很平静。现在，奥运会又开始筹备了，这注定将成为一场势均力敌的大赛。In the 1990s, China used to secure half the medals of the US and a smaller proportion of golds. During this millennium they have caught up to such an extent that only four gold medals separated them in Athens. China are poised to strike. [5]上世纪90年代，中国获得的奖牌数通常只有美国的一半，金牌就更少了。新千年，中国人奋起直追，