Technology at the Winter Olympics
白色奥运会的高科技
2014年的冬季奥运会在俄罗斯的索契举行。这是有史以来的奥运会最为昂贵的一次奥运会。
对于世界级的运动员们来说，这是一次可以发挥他们最好的实力的机会，以及为他们的祖国赢得金牌和荣誉。另外，他们中的大部分人都可以选择新的高科技技术来帮助他们提高速度。Rob和Finn将会和大家一起讨论在这次索契冬季奥运会中的高科技所扮演的角色，以及解说一些和运动有关的专业性词语。
本期的问题：
在今届冬季奥运会中有一项运动成为两项竞赛。这是包括了竞赛者做的两个项目，但具体名称是什么呢？它们是：
a) Cross-country skiing and rifle shooting 越野滑雪和步枪射击
b) Downhill skiing and rifle shooting 高山滑雪和步枪射击
c) Cross-country skiing and swimming 越野滑雪和游泳
让我们一起听节目，找答案吧。
正文内容：
Technology at the Winter Olympics
NB: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Rob: Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by Finn. Hello Finn.
Finn: Hi Rob.
Rob: Today we’re talking about the biggest sporting event that's taking place at the moment – the Winter Olympics at Sochi in Russia.
Finn: Yes, it's the 22nd Winter Games to take place but these ones are the most expensive ever – they are reported to have cost around £32 billion.
Rob: And it was quite a surprise when the Games were awarded to Sochi back in 2007 because the city is better known for palm trees than for ski slopes. But a lot of new technology has gone into making this competition possible.
Finn: Yes and a lot of technology has been used to make this year's sportsmen and sportswomen faster than ever – and that's what we'll be discussing today, as well as explaining some sports-related vocabulary.
Rob: But first Finn, let's see if you can 'go for gold' and get this question right. One winter sport event in this Olympics is the Biathlon. It involves competitors doing two things but what are they? Are they:
a) Cross-country skiing and rifle shooting
b) Downhill skiing and rifle shooting
c) Cross-country skiing and swimming
Finn: I'm going to say cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, that's a).
Rob: OK, we’ll find out if you are right or wrong later on. So Finn, are you a fan of the Winter Olympics?
Finn: I must say I prefer the summer Olympics but I do enjoy watching the skiing. What about you?
Rob: I particularly enjoy watching the bobsleigh racing – the speed is incredible and it looks like a really fun thing to do.
Finn: And dangerous!
Rob: Yes. But of course, the athletes need a lot of skill to complete the course in the fastest time and, of course, win the race.
Finn: Yes, they need to be very fit but technology can also give them a helping hand. Behind the scenes, computer modelling helps to design the best wind-resistant bobsleighs - and the best techniques for the athletes to use.
Rob: This is true for another Olympic sport, speed skating. When there's less than a second between gold and silver medal, clothing can make a big difference – a newly-designed speed-skating suit, introduced in 2002, helped many skaters beat their personal best.
Finn: Yes, they improved their own fastest time. So materials used in the design of sportswear can give competitors an advantage – and another factor is the technology in the equipment they use.
Rob: Such as in skiing, where skis are manufactured – or made – with materials that increase durability - that's staying in good condition for a long time despite constant use – and stability – keeping skis upright – and of course, speed.
Finn: Yes, and there are different designs for different types of skiing: some skis are narrow and light to use for cross-country skiing while others are short with curved edges, to allow skiers to tackle sharp turns in a slalom race.
Rob: A slalom involves lots of tight turns. I tried that when I went skiing once and it was quite tricky, especially at speed, which is why I took my time, doing a snow-plough around every pole.
Finn: OK, so no gold medal for you! Ski design is constantly evolving – or improving – which makes ski events some of the most varied and exciting of the Winter Games.
Rob: There are other types of skiing in the Winter Olympics such as, ski jumping, freestyle skiing, skiing moguls and Nordic skiing. All these need one crucial – or essential thing:
Finn: Skis?
Rob: I was thinking more of snow! But as Sochi is known for its subtropical climate, using natural snow is a little bit unreliable. That's why loads of artificial – or fake snow is being made.
Finn: Yes, and snow guns are being used to do this. They eject cooled water and compressed air to make man-made snow.
Rob: But the problem with this is it uses large quantities of water so it depletes – or uses up – local resources. It's believed the snowmaking system at Sochi could empty an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than one hour.
Finn: Of course ice is another essential ingredient for many of the winter games. Sports such as: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, luge and skeleton – that's where competitors, known as sliders, hurtle head first down the 1.5km course on a sled not much bigger than a tea-tray!
Rob: That really does sound dangerous! And what about the biathlon Finn? I asked you earlier which two sports that competition involves.
Finn: I really had no idea but I said a) cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
Rob: Well, you're quite knowledgeable actually, because the answer is a). It's cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Did you know, the biathlon is also the sweatiest sport at the Winter Olympics? Male athletes typically produce 2.3 litres (or 4 pints) of perspiration in the 20km race.
Finn: Four pints? Wow! Well, it makes me sweat just thinking about doing something like that.
Rob: That's it for today, we hope you’ve enjoyed listening. Please join us again soon for another 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Bye.
Finn: Bye.
词汇学习：
1. go for gold 冲击金牌
2. athletes 运动员
3. give (someone) a helping hand 给（某人）帮助
4. modelling 模拟软件
5. personal best 个人最好成绩
6. an advantage 优势
7. durability 耐久性，持续性
8. slalom 障碍滑雪
9. snow-plough 作犁式滑降
10. freestyle 自由式
会魔法的猫妖
😥