Commonwealth Games 2010:

condoms block drains at athletes village

Thousands of flushed condoms threaten to choke the Commonwealth Games village's drainage system, media reports said, in the latest problem to hit the venue.

Games organisers, who won a race against time to ready the village, are now battling to clear clogged drains after thousands of non-biodegradable contraceptives were flushed down lavatories in the first week of the event.

"If that is happening, it shows that there is use of condoms and I think that is a very positive story. Athletes are being responsible," Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell told a news conference on Thursday.

"We all know that encouraging safe sex is a very important thing to do."

Games organisers had provided 8,000 free condoms in the village, and the provision appears to be in high demand. One official told the Mail Today newspaper on Thursday that over 4,000 had already been snapped up by eager athletes.

Shoddy construction work, fears over an outbreak of dengue fever and worries about security had meant many teams delayed their move into the village before the Games began. However, blame for the latest problem lies firmly with the athletes.

Following a decision to provide free condoms at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, it has become something of a tradition.

At the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, athletes quickly used up the 70,000 free condoms provided, forcing organisers to supply another 20,000, while at the 2004 Games in Athens, the provision was doubled to 130,000.

At both the Beijing Games in 2008, and the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February, 100,000 condoms were provided for athletes.

中文大意

(引自 http://chinese.wsj.com/big5/20101008/BRF100907.asp?source=channel)

英國《每日電訊報》10月7日的報道說，好不容易在最後一刻才將選手村準備就緒的新德裡英聯邦運動會的組織者們現在又遇到了新難題──成千上萬被從抽水馬桶裡沖下來的不可降解避孕套阻塞了選手村的下水道系統，急需清理。

報道說，賽會組織者在選手村免費提供了8,000只避孕套，運動員們對這玩意兒似乎有很高需求。報道稱，許多參賽運動隊曾因選手村低劣的建築質量等原因推遲入住，但那些搬進去的運動員對避孕套阻塞選手村下水道一事顯然難辭其咎。報道還說，2008年北京奧運會期間，賽會組織者曾向運動員們提供了10萬只避孕套。

單字解析   

1.        block   封鎖

2.        drain    排水

3.        choke    阻塞

4.        clog     阻塞

5.        non-biodegradable 非生物性分解

6.         contraceptives避孕藥

7.        organisers   組織者

8.        snap   搶購

9.        Shoddy 劣質的

10.    dengue登革熱

本文內容僅供參考，無任何買賣建議，投資人應謹慎評估，風險自負。