Horizon：Olympic architecture around the world
【明報專訊】The 2020 Olympic Games has been postponed for one year, but the coronavirus issue remains. Some claim that the Games should be cancelled, but that would mean a huge unrecoverable cost for Japan. According to official statistics, expenditure on the Games has reached US$15.9 billion(around HK$ 123 billion), and some of it has gone to the new buildings. Can you name some Olympic architecture?
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro-
Maracana Stadium
THE stadium was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup. After its 2010–2013 renovation, the rebuilt stadium currently seats 78000 spectators, making it the largest stadium in Brazil. However, after the 2016 Olympic Games, it was reported that a number of Rio's major Olympic venues had fallen into a state of disrepair.
Beijing, China-
Water Cube… Ice Cube?
THE Beijing National Aquatics Center was widely known as the Water Cube(水立方), but we are about to call it the Ice Cube, because it has already been renovated for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Part of it has been converted to a curling rink to hold curling events.
Tokyo, Japan-
National Stadium (國立競技場)
The National Stadium was used as the main stadium for the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. The former stadium was demolished after Japan decided to host the 2020 Olympic Games. The construction of new stadium was completed in 2019. The Emperor's Cup soccer championship final (天皇盃決賽) was played there on New Year's Day 2020. After the 2020 Games are over, the stadium will be used for sporting and cultural events.
■Glossary
unrecoverable (adj) 無法補救的
renovation (n) 翻新
disrepair (n) 失修
demolish (v) 拆卸
[Smarties' Power English 第304期]
Celebrity：Min Aung Hlaing The military leader who seized power in Myanmar
【明報專訊】You might not be familiar with him, but he is certainly the man ... 詳情
