Behind the Glory An Unknown Hero 信望愛文教基金會 英文種子教師團隊

Behind the Glory: An Unknown Hero

For many of us, the mention of the Olympics conjures up images of sweating athletes and shining medals. Nonetheless, according to the Olympic Charter, the Olympic spirit concerns more than winning. Rather, it centers on the practice of human rights, that is, equality. Through sport, everyone is granted the chance to become the best without discrimination of any kind. Guor Marial, one of the contestants in the Olympic of 2012, is one of the best examples to demonstrate this spirit to the whole world. No one is said to have overcome more difficulties than Guor Marial to run in the London Olympics. Born in war-ravaged , Guor Marial was forced to participate in the Sudanese army at the age of seven, earning as little as one dollar per month. Young as he was, he knew the only way out was to escape. As a result, after his arrival in the U.S. as a refugee, running, no surprise, reminded him of all those painful days. “When I left Sudan, I said I will never, never run again, because I thought running was only for me to save my life,” he recalled. However, did not have a National Olympic Committee in time for the 2012 London games. The only choices available were to run for Sudan, which he refused to do as they were responsible for the deaths of 28 of his relatives, or to run as an Independent Olympic Athlete (IOA), which he did. "I'm feeling great to be able to bring the name of South Sudan to the Olympics. This is the light I’ve been seeing when I’m walking in the dark tunnel. This is what I’ve been waiting for,” he told BBC reporter. While media reports of fierce competitions and distinguished medalists cover all the major news headlines, most of us forget the are about more than winning and losing. The numbers these Olympians leave on scoreboards represent the struggle they have been through and the obstacles they have conquered. Besides cheering and applauding, every one of us is also given numerous inspiring stories to contemplate and to reflect upon.

Vocabulary

1. mention v. [ˋmɛnʃən] 提及 14. refuse v. [rɪˋfjuz] 拒絕 2. athlete n. [ˋæθlit] 運動員 15. tunnel n. [ˋtʌn!] 隧道 3. concern v. [kənˋsɝn] 與…相關, 16. independent adj. [͵ɪndɪˋpɛndə 獨立的 使擔心 nt] 4. equality n. [iˋkwɑlətɪ] 平等 17. media(medium n. [ˋmidɪə] 新聞媒介, 的複數) 傳播媒介

5. grant v. [grænt] 給予 18. competition n. [͵kɑmpəˋtɪʃə 比賽 n] 6. discrimination n. [dɪ͵skrɪməˋneʃən] 區別 19. distinguished adj. [dɪˋstɪŋgwɪʃt] 傑出的 7. demonstrate v. [ˋdɛmən͵stret] 顯示出 20. scoreboard n. [ˋskor͵bord] 記分板 8. participate v. [pɑrˋtɪsə͵pet] 參與 21. represent v. [͵rɛprɪˋzɛnt] 象徵 9. arrival n. [əˋraɪv!] 到達 22. obstacle n. [ˋɑbstək!] 困難, 障 礙物 10. refugee n. [͵rɛfjʊˋdʒi] 難民 23. conquer v. [͵kɑŋkɚ] 克服, 戰 勝 11. remind v. [rɪˋmaɪnd] 使想起 24. applaud v. [əˋplɔd] 向…鼓掌 12. painful adj. [ˋpenfəl] 引起痛苦 25. inspiring adj. [ɪnˋspaɪrɪŋ] 激勵人心 的 的 13. available adj. [əˋveləb!] 可行的 26. contemplate v. [ ˋ k ɑ nt ɛ m ͵ 思考, 仔 plet] 細考慮 Phrases

1. conjures up 想起 2. in time 及時

Words for Recognition

1. The Olympics 奧運 5. war-ravaged 飽受戰火蹂躪的 2. Sudan 蘇丹(非洲國家) 6. South Sudan 南蘇丹 (非洲國家) 3. National 奧林匹克委員會 7. Independent 獨立奧林匹克運動員 Olympic Olympic Athlete Committee (IOA) 4. BBC (British 英國廣播公司 Broadcasting Corporation)