国际奥委会前主席萨马兰奇病逝的消息让世界人民心痛不已，我们难以用语言形容奥林匹克大家庭的悲伤。他把一生都贡献给了奥林匹克，也是中国人民的好朋友。2008年8月1日出版的《文明》杂志刊登了他为《奥林匹克与中国》（“新北京·新奥运”珍藏特刊Ⅱ）画册撰写的序言，题为《期盼北京2008》（Expecting Beijing 2008）。让我们一起来回味一下他对2008北京奥运会寄托的期盼和给予的支持。

Expecting BeiJing 2008 《期盼北京2008》

Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch 

国际奥委会终生名誉主席 萨马兰奇

For the first time, the Olympic Games will be held in china in 2008. For the first time, the entire world will share a unique celebration thanks to the knowledge and experience of what china has achieved in thousands of years of its history and culture.

2008年，奥运会将首次在中国举行。全世界也将首次在独特的奥运盛典上分享中国数千年的悠久历史文化。

I would like to salute the initiative of the well-known "civilization magazine", which, through its "Olympic series", makes an important contribution to the promotion of the Olympic ideals and the history of the Olympic Games among the Chinese people.

著名的文明杂志社推出了“奥运系列刊物”（新北京·新奥运珍藏特刊），为在中国民众中推广奥林匹克理念，宣传奥林匹克历史做出了巨大的贡献。在这里我要向他们的这一创意致敬。

China is a country of culture and plays a significant role in the world of sport. China has always spread the Olympic ideal, which is based on solidarity, friendship and peace, within its territory.

中国是个文化大国，在世界体育事业中也发挥着重要的作用。中国一直致力于在国内传播奥林匹克“团结、友谊、和平”的理想。

I have always been, and will remain forever a friend of your great country. Our friendship started when I was the Spanish ambassador in Moscow at the end of the 1970s. During my 21 years as IOC president, I visited China more than 20 times. The Chinese people are friendly and warm-hearted. I feel their warmth and find myself in an ocean of friendship whenever I set foot on Chinese soil.

我一直而且会永远是这个伟大国家的朋友。我和中国的友谊开始于20世纪70年代，我在莫斯科当西班牙大使的时候。在我担任国际奥委会主席的21年中，曾经20多次访问中国。中国人民非常热情友好。每次踏上这片土地，他们的热情都让我感到仿佛置身于友谊的海洋中。

I will always remember the moment when I presented the first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles games in 1984, because it was awarded to a Chinese athlete, Xu Haifeng and it was also the first Olympic gold medal to be won by a Chinese person in the Olympic history. Since then, Chinese athletes have achieved some remarkable performances throughout the world. These athletes, who have faced many challenges, become examples for future generations in China and beyond. They motivate young girls and boys, encouraging them to practise sport, and above all inspiring dreams of participating in the Olympic Games.

我始终记得，在1984年洛杉矶奥运会上给中国运动员许海峰颁发该届奥运会第一块金牌的情形。这也是中国历史上首次赢得奥运会金牌。从那以后，中国运动员在世界各地都取得了辉煌的成绩。他们曾经面临众多的挑战，为中国和全世界的下一代运动员做出了榜样。他们鼓励青少年积极参加体育活动，最重要的是激发他们参加奥运会的梦想。

During these last decades, the changes in China are incredible and spectacular. China is becoming one of the most important countries in the world. Beijing's candidacy was already a revelation.

过去几十年中，中国发生了惊人的变化。北京成为奥运会主办城市这一事实说明中国正成为世界上最重要的国家之一。

It is a bustling city which has demonstrated surprising development and is showing an imagination and new technology that startles whoever studies its current evolution.

北京是个热闹非凡的大都市，城市的发展令世人惊讶。如果仔细研究一下北京现代的变化，人人都会对她展现出的丰富的想象力和新技术感到吃惊。

I am convinced that the Beijing games will be successful if China is really willing to organise very successful games and if it really knows very well that these games can be a turning point for the country.

如果中国真想组织一次成功的奥运会并充分意识到奥运会将成为这个国家的转折点，那么我坚信北京奥运会将会是一届非常成功的奥运会。

As we look forward to the games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008, I am certain that the Chinese people and athletes will add to the excellence and excitement of the games.

让我们期盼着2008年第29届北京奥运会，我深信中国人民和运动员一定会为这场盛会增色添彩！

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（来源：普特英语听力  编辑：Julie）