Los Angeles, California is
set to welcome more than 7,000 thousand athletes from 177
nations for the Special
Olympics World Summer Games. The event gathers athletes with
intellectual
disabilities to take part in competitive sports. The events
include basketball, gymnastics,
foot
races, bowling and many other summer sports. This year’s
games open July 25th. Barbara Figueroa will be there. She is a competitive bowler from
southern California. She has been playing the sport for nine years and is
excited about the international competition.
* be
set to ~ = ~하도록 예정되어 있다/the Special Olympics = (1968년 창설) 특별 올림픽/ intellectual
disability = 지적장애/ gymnastics = 체조/ foot race = 도보 경주/ competitive = 경쟁력 있는, 뒤지지
않는; 경쟁을 하는
Karen Terra is the Special Olympics
director for San Diego. She says bowling practice helps Figueroa and other
athletes stay
focused. "Oh, they're so excited. In fact, Barbara just told
me earlier this morning, she feels like she's won the lottery. You did
win the lottery. You're one of 36 people from Southern California who got
selected to go to this, out of 17,000 athletes. That is huge." Barbara Figueroa
lives with Evelyn Benjamin, who has become like a grandmother. She says she has
watched the athlete improve and shares in Figueroa’s excitement. "I think she's
a little overwhelmed. She's very
excited. But I don't think she has any idea yet just how special this is going
to be. I tell her, but until you experience it, the unknown, you can only
fantasize."
* stay focused = 집중하다/ win the lottery = 복권에 당첨되다/ overwhelmed =
(격한 감정에) 압도되다[휩싸이다]/ fantasize = 공상하다, 환상을 갖다
Special Olympics Bowler Ready for Summer Games - WTS.mp3