特别广播英语第 253 课：World Cup Fever Hits Asia 世足热蔓延全亚-1

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. 5月31日当法国和塞内加尔在2002年世界杯足球赛的开幕赛开球时，他们将创造历史。

For the first time, the only international sporting event to rival the Olympic Games in popularity will be taking place in Asia. 第一次，这项唯一能与奥运会的受欢迎程度相匹敌的国际运动赛事在亚洲举办。

In another first, two countries, rather than one, will play host to the tournament. 另一个第一，则是由两个国家而不是一个国家担任比赛的主办人。

Many people were skeptical about allowing Japan and South Korea to jointly stage soccer's biggest tournament. 许多人对于让日本和南韩联合举办足球界最盛大的赛事持怀疑的态度。

After all, historically, the two nations have been enemies. 毕竟在历史上，两个国家曾经是敌人。

Nevertheless, both of them have successfully hosted the Olympics in the past, and both are eager to take to the world stage once again. 无论如何，他们过去都曾成功地举办了奥运会，两个国家都希望能再度成为世界的舞台。

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. 用极高的声望做赌注，日本和韩国的有关当局一直在努力工作，并花了大笔钱财来确保2002年世界杯足球赛的成功。

If past evidence is anything to go by, fans of the “beautiful game” around the world are not likely to be disappointed. 如果过去成功的例子可以依循，世界各地“漂亮球赛”的球迷们就不太可能会失望。