三民英文宅急通vol74.DOC

?by Theodore Pigott, special correspondent? 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei The 2009 Summer Deaflympics came to a close on September 15. Thousands of deaf athletes along with their coaches and family and friends enjoyed the gracious hospitality of their Taiwanese hosts over the course of the eleven-day event. The games were also blessed with nice weather, which came as a pleasant surprise after earlier reports had indicated that rain might dampen the occasion. This year’s Deaflympics kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony at Taipei Municipal Stadium on September 5. Fireworks filled the night sky, and A-mei flew through the air on special cables as she sang the Deaflympic theme song “Dreams You Can Hear.” A special candlelight vigil was also held to honor the victims of the recent Typhoon Morakot disaster. Then, the towering Deaflympic flame was lit, and the games were ready to begin. Twenty sports were featured in this year’s event, including badminton, soccer, tennis, and swimming, and the competitions were held at venues all around Taipei. Taiwan did very well in these games, with 11 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 11 bronze medals. This placed Taiwan fifth overall in the medal standings and gave Taiwan its best-ever finish in the Deaflympics. Throughout the event, the streets of Taipei, particularly around Taipei Municipal Stadium, were filled with foreign athletes and visitors. Many of the participants could also be seen running in local parks and training at athletic centers around Taipei. The athletes taking part in the games praised organizers for making everything run so smoothly. In particular, the thousands of volunteers, many of whom had learned basic sign language and were always ready to help out with a smile, were frequently commended. The 2009 Summer Deaflympics came to an end with a traditional Taiwanese party. More than 350 round tables were set up, and athletes and guests were served a wide variety of Taiwanese specialties, including steamed