World Cup Fever Hits Asia

世足熱蔓延全亞

When France and Senegal kick off on May 31 in the opening game of the 2002 soccer World Cup Finals, they will be making history. For the first time, the only international sporting event to rival the Olympic Games in popularity will be taking place in Asia. In another first, two countries, rather than one, will play host to the tournament.?

5月31日當(dāng)法國(guó)和塞內(nèi)加爾在2002年世界杯足球賽的開(kāi)幕賽開(kāi)球時(shí)，他們將創(chuàng)造歷史。第一次，這項(xiàng)唯一能與奧運(yùn)會(huì)的受歡迎程度相匹敵的國(guó)際運(yùn)動(dòng)賽事在亞洲舉辦。另一個(gè)第一，則是由兩個(gè)國(guó)家而不是一個(gè)國(guó)家擔(dān)任比賽的主辦人。

Many people were skeptical about allowing Japan and South Korea to jointly stage soccer’s biggest tournament. After all, historically, the two nations have been enemies. Nevertheless, both of them have successfully hosted the Olympics in the past, and both are eager to take to the world stage once again.

許多人對(duì)于讓日本和南韓聯(lián)合舉辦足球界最盛大的賽事持懷疑的態(tài)度。畢竟在歷史上，兩個(gè)國(guó)家曾經(jīng)是敵人。無(wú)論如何，他們過(guò)去都曾成功地舉辦了奧運(yùn)會(huì)，兩個(gè)國(guó)家都希望能再度成為世界的舞臺(tái)。

With a huge amount of prestige at stake, the Japanese and Korean authorities have been working hard, and spending big, to make sure World Cup 2002 is a success. If past evidence is anything to go by, fans of the “beautiful game” around the world are not likely to be disappointed.

用極高的聲望做賭注，日本和韓國(guó)的有關(guān)當(dāng)局一直在努力工作，并花了大筆錢財(cái)來(lái)確保2002年世界杯足球賽的成功。如果過(guò)去成功的例子可以依循，世界各地“漂亮球賽”的球迷們就不太可能會(huì)失望。

It is impossible to say when soccer was first played. People have been kicking objects around for fun since time immemorial. The modern version of the game, however, clearly began in 1863, in England. That was when the London Football Association published the first set of soccer rules.? Besides setting the rules, the association gave the game its formal name: association football. The popular term “soccer” is thought to be derived from “association.”?

很難說(shuō)人們第一次玩足球始于何時(shí)。自古以來(lái)人們?yōu)榱巳?lè)就將身邊的東西踢來(lái)踢去。然而球賽的現(xiàn)代版本確實(shí)是在1863年始于英國(guó)。當(dāng)時(shí)正是倫敦足球協(xié)會(huì)出版了第一套足球規(guī)則。除了制定規(guī)則，這個(gè)協(xié)會(huì)還為球賽取了一個(gè)正式的名稱：英式足球。眾人皆知的名稱“足球”被認(rèn)為是由“協(xié)會(huì)”這個(gè)詞衍生而來(lái)。

England may have set the rules, but many people argue that the game’s spiritual home is Brazil. The South American country is home to the world’s most successful and admired national team. Famous for their free-flowing, elegant style, often referred to as “samba soccer,” the Brazilians have carried home the World Cup trophy no fewer than four times. Despite some poor results recently, it would be foolish to dismiss Brazil’s chances in World Cup 2002.?

英國(guó)人也許制定了足球的規(guī)則，但許多人認(rèn)為足球靈魂的故鄉(xiāng)是巴西。這個(gè)南美洲國(guó)家是全世界最成功、最為人欣賞的球隊(duì)的家鄉(xiāng)。巴西人以自由、文雅的踢球風(fēng)格聞名，常被認(rèn)為是“桑巴足球”，他們抱回世界杯的獎(jiǎng)杯足足有四次。盡管近年來(lái)戰(zhàn)績(jī)有些不太好，但小看巴西隊(duì)在2002年世界杯足球賽的獲勝機(jī)會(huì)是愚蠢的。

A famous Scottish coach, when asked if he really thought soccer was a matter of life and death, replied, “no, it’s more important than that.” ?He was joking, of course, but there is no denying the passion with which soccer fans all around the world follow their favorite teams.?

當(dāng)一位著名的蘇格蘭教練被問(wèn)到他是否真的認(rèn)為足球是生死攸關(guān)的事，他回答：“不，它比生死重要?！碑?dāng)然他是在開(kāi)玩笑，但是世界各地的球迷追隨他們喜愛(ài)球隊(duì)的熱情是無(wú)可否認(rèn)的。

For many, losing a big match is a fate worse than death. Brazil’s defeat on home soil in the 1950 World Cup final, for instance, was described as a national tragedy. When the Italian team returned home after losing a game to North Korea in 1966, they were pelted with tomatoes by disappointed fans.?

對(duì)許多人來(lái)說(shuō)，輸?shù)粢粓?chǎng)重大的比賽是比死亡還要悲慘的命運(yùn)。舉例來(lái)說(shuō)，巴西在1950年世界杯足球賽中主場(chǎng)的失敗，被形容為國(guó)家的慘劇。當(dāng)1966年意大利隊(duì)輸?shù)魧?duì)朝鮮的球賽回國(guó)后，被失望的球迷們用西紅柿扔擲。

At World Cup 2002, Asian soccer fans are likely to be every bit as enthusiastic as their European and South American counterparts. Judging from the overwhelming ticket sales in Japan and South Korea, organizers are confident that the tournament will be one of the best-attended World Cups in history.?

在2002年世界杯足球賽中，亞洲的球迷很可能和他們歐洲和南美的同道中人一樣熱情。從日本和韓國(guó)瘋狂的入場(chǎng)券銷售來(lái)判斷，主辦單位有信心這屆比賽將成為歷史上票房最好的世足賽之一。