Pronunciation ChallengeCNN10: Wuhan Then and Now / 2020 Tokyo Olympics

【Transcript】

Wuhan Then and Now

The world has gone through extraordinary changes in one year. The coronavirus pandemic outbreak occurred in Wuhan City just over a year ago. There had been fewer than ten cases of coronavirus identified in America by that time. But since then, health officials have reported more than 25 million positive tests in the U.S., and more than 99 million worldwide.
Wuhan, China, was the original epicenter of the coronavirus which remained sealed-off for 76 days. U.S. officials have accused China of covering up the truth and allowing the virus to spread. In defense, China claimed that the Trump Administration was deflecting blame for its own mishandling. Wuhan’s stunning speed of recovery began just a couple of months after the outbreak, the markets were back to normal around March, pool parties were held with thousands of people going. And, on December 31, as millions of people in other countries spent New Year's Eve under lockdown, Wuhan's residents packed glittering streets to celebrate the arrival of 2021 with a midnight countdown. With new cluster outbreaks in Northern China, many people here in Wuhan have put on face masks once again, cautious of the lingering virus and still surrounded by the haunting memories of a lockdown that kept millions of residents along with their grief sealed inside.

Tokyo Olympics 2020

In 1964 Tokyo became the first Asian city ever to host the Olympics. But the question now is if the city will ever host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The games were originally scheduled to begin last July, but four months earlier they were postponed because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Now, the Games are officially scheduled to begin on July 23rd this year, and Olympic organizers have said that if it doesn’t happen, then the whole 2020 Olympics will be canceled and not postponed again. And now, six months until the Tokyo Olympics; the outlook is grim. Japan is still struggling with a severe surge in COVID-19 cases as the city of Tokyo remains in a state of emergency.

Speculation grows around whether the games could be held in the middle of a pandemic. The Times of London reports the Japanese government has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled, citing an unnamed senior government official. However, the International and Japanese Olympic Committees called the report ridiculous and simply untrue. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reaffirmed his commitment to hold the Games as scheduled. It will be a symbol of humanity overcoming the novel coronavirus. The Japanese Government has spent over 25 Billion US Dollars (for speech) on the Olympic Games. For years, Tokyo has been redeveloping, and the entire Shibuya district has been getting a complete makeover, new buildings, landscaping, and even new subway lines, waiting to show it all to tourists from all over the world. Japan's prime minister says the Summer Games will bring hope and courage to the world. Well, a lot of that courage will be needed as each day, the July 23rd opening date grows closer. Hope the country recovers soon.

^ ^

hi

hey