Winter Olympics Open Friday in Vancouver

Athletes from more than 80 countries will compete in 15 sports. Transcript of radio broadcast:

09 February 2010

BOB DOUGHTY:

I'm Bob Doughty.

FAITH LAPIDUS:

And I'm Faith Lapidus with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Today we tell about the Winter Olympic Games that open February twelfth in Vancouver, Canada.

About five thousand men and women from more than eighty countries will compete for seventeen days at the Vancouver Olympics. They will compete in more than eighty separate medal events in fifteen sports. The games are about sportsmanship, hard work, and national pride. The athletes share a common goal -- to do their best and win a gold medal.

(MUSIC)

Workers at the Vancouver Olympics setting up a ski slopeBOB DOUGHTY:

This will be the twenty-first Winter Olympic Games. The last Winter Games were held in two thousand six in Turin, Italy. The next Winter Olympics will be in Sochi, Russia, in four years. But this month, millions of people around the world will turn their attention to the games taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The city is on the western coast of Canada. It is known for its many bike and hiking paths, forests, lakes and beautiful mountain views. Vancouver is also a busy city with interesting cultural events, shops, restaurants and galleries. Many people spend their vacations visiting the city. For years, Vancouver has been rated one of the most livable places in the world. And, it has been rated one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.