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词汇提示

1.ascendancy 优势

2.wagered 打赌

3.prowess 英勇

4.platform 平台

5.unfolded 展开

6.distinction 奖赏

7.recreational 娱乐

8.equally 同样的

9.dispense 免除

原文

Rowing

The sport of rowing is one of the oldest organized sports in the Western world.

The modern version of the sport was developed mainly in England in the nineteenth century，especially in the public school system.

However，boat races somewhat similar to the modern sport took place in ancient Greece during the ancient version of the Olympics.

In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries，rowing gained much popularity.

The sport was particularly famous in countries with a history of immigration from Great British：Canada，Australia，and the United States of America.

Most of the main colonial countries had national championship，and a world championship was regularly held.

The sport developed either in private clubs or in elite educational institutions.

In 1852，a race between Yale and Harvard universities in the U.S. was the first organized athletic competition of any kind.

The turn of the century saw the sport's ascendancy to one of the largest spectator sports.

Many regularly held races depended on betting and gambling to attract spectators.

The biggest international matches attracted thousands of spectators，and much money was wagered.

Canadian Ned Hanlan was perhaps the greatest of the early rowing champions.

In the late nineteenth century，he dominated international rowing races.

Hanlan also combined his rowing skill and prowess with his own unique brand of showmanship to attract spectators.

Hanlan is also known for having invented the “sliding seat”.

His wooden seat set on wheels greatly increased his efficiency and speed and gave him a distinct advantage over competitors.

Before Hanlan's time，rowers would wipe grease on a wooden platform in the boat and slide over the grease.

The old technique was less reliable and not allow as much leg drive as Hanlan's newly invented seat.

As the twentieth century unfolded，rowing lost some of its earlier public support and distinction.

In North America，as professional sports attracted the attention of spectators and television viewers，other amateur sporting traditions，such as rowing，lost support.

Today，rowing maintains a strong tradition under the administration of the world governing body for the sport.

However，the yearly world championship dose not typically receive attention of other major sport events，such as track and field.

The highlight of rowing competition is undoubtedly the Olympic Games.

However，older traditional races，such as the English Henley and the yearly Oxford-Cambridge Boat race，still attract large crowds.

A more recently development in rowing is recreational and Masters rowing.

In an attempt to regain popularity in the sport，many clubs in North America are offering less competitive recreational programs and encouraging older Master rowers to participate.

This is probably a positive move in at least two reasons.

One is that the sport will attract many more participants.

However，the other equally importance reason is that the sport might dispense some of the “elitist”image many people have of the sport as “English old-boy”sport.

翻译

赛艇

赛艇运动是西方世界最古老的有组织运动之一。
这项运动的现代版本主要在19世纪的英国发展起来，尤其是在公立学校系统。
然而，在古代奥运会期间，古希腊举行了与现代体育运动有点相似的划船比赛。
在十九世纪末二十世纪初，划船运动得到了广泛的普及。
这项运动在有着英国移民历史的国家尤其著名：加拿大、澳大利亚和美利坚合众国。
大多数主要殖民地国家都举办了全国锦标赛，并定期举办世界锦标赛。
这项运动要么在私人俱乐部发展，要么在精英教育机构发展。
1852年，美国耶鲁大学和哈佛大学之间的比赛是所有活动中第一次有组织的体育比赛。
在世纪之交，这项运动逐渐成为观众最多的运动之一。
许多定期举行的比赛依靠博彩和赌博来吸引观众。
最大规模的国际比赛吸引了数千名观众，下了很多赌注。
加拿大人内德·汉兰可能是最伟大的早期赛艇冠军。
19世纪末，他主导了国际赛艇比赛。
汉兰还将自己的划船技巧和实力与自己独特的表演技巧相结合，以吸引观众。
汉兰还因发明了“滑动座椅”而闻名。
他的木制座椅安装在轮子上，极大地提高了他的效率和速度，使他比竞争对手具有明显的优势。
在汉兰的时代之前，划船者会在船上的木制平台上擦油，然后在油上滑行。
旧的技术不太可靠，不允许像汉兰新发明的座椅那样多的腿部活动。
随着二十世纪的发展，划船运动失去了一些早期的公众支持和声望。
在北美，随着职业体育吸引了观众和电视观众的注意，划船等其他业余体育传统也失去了支持。
今天，在世界划船运动管理机构的管理下，划船运动保持着强大的传统。
然而，一年一度的世界锦标赛通常不会受到类似田径等其他重大体育赛事的关注。
赛艇比赛的高光时刻无疑是奥运会。
然而，古老的传统比赛，如英国亨利和每年的牛津剑桥划船比赛，仍然吸引着大量的观众。
赛艇运动最近的一个发展是休闲和大师级赛艇。
为了在这项运动中重获人气，北美的许多俱乐部正在提供竞争力较弱的娱乐项目，并鼓励年长的赛艇大师参加。
这可能是一个积极的举动，其中至少有两个原因。
一是这项运动将吸引更多的参与者。
然而，另一个同样重要的原因是，这项运动可能要抹去许多人对这项运动的“精英”形象，即“英国老男孩”运动。