VOA标准英语2012--Chinese Invest in Italian Soccer Club
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(九月)
Chinese Invest in Italian Soccer Club
Internazionale Milan, one of Italy's most famous teams, has played in the country's top league, Serie A, since its founding in 1908.
Massimo Moratti, the team president and main shareholder 1, recently announced an $87-million deal with a group of Chinese investors 2 for 15 percent of the team's shares.
Sports commentator 3 Gian Luca Rossi says Moratti's primary business in oil drilling and refining was hit hard by the political upheaval 4 in Libya. Those losses, as well as the deepening of the economic crisis in Europe made it more difficult for him to fund the prestigious 5 but less profitable soccer team.
"The dramatic thing here is that fans think that a poor country can still have a rich soccer," noted 6 Rossi.
Rossi adds that Moratti had been looking for investment from Asia for at least two years.
"From what I gathered talking to Moratti recently, the idea of not having to be alone in writing checks for 20, 30, 50 million is something that gives him his breath back, and makes him look at the future with great optimism," said Rossi.
As part of the deal, a new stadium in Milan will replace the San Siro venue 7, which is shared with Inter's rival team AC Milan. The stadium will be built by the state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation as its first project in Europe.
"The stadium now, costs the two teams something like 16 million [euros - about $20 million] each year, so for each club it's a rent of eight million euro [$10 million]," Rossi noted. "Obviously, this is money that should be spent elsewhere, for a club that is supposed to be making important buys to stay competitive.
As fans gathered in Milan for the first match of the Italian championship, most were happy about Moratti's choice of partners.
"It is definitely a well-chosen deal," said Giacomo della Vecchia, president of a nearby city's Interclub. "Because nowadays there can be no tycoon 8, like in the past, that completely sponsors a team and uniquely shoulders all the expenses. It is a modern thing and I think it should be done."
Internazionale Milano was founded in 1908 after a schism 9 within AC Milan about allowing foreigners to play. Gian Luca Rossi says the new deal is in character for the team.
"They said: 'No! Why can't a soccer team have foreign players? We will create one ourselves.' From that they chose the name International. So the idea of being opened up to the outside has always been there," Rossi said.
The new stadium is expected by 2017.
- The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
- A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
- He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
- The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。
- It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
- The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。
- The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
- You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
- The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。
- The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
- The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。