VOA慢速英语:Technology Designed to Take Paralympians to New Levels

The Paralympic Games in London have been called the “greatest Paralympic Games ever.”  International Paralympic Committee President Sir Phillip Craven made the statement to a crowd at the games’ closing ceremony earlier this month. He said the athletic event had found its pathway to the future.
伦敦残奥会已被称为“有史以来最伟大的一届残奥会。”国际残奥委员会主席Phillip Craven爵士本月初在残奥会闭幕式上表达了这种观点。他说，这一赛事找到了自己未来的方向。

Paralympic athletes were not the only ones making news this year. The attention was also on improvements in technology that helped those men and women compete.
残奥会运动员并不是今年唯一的主角。注意力还集中在包括帮助这些运动员比赛的技术进步。

Engineers David Sheffield and Doug Watt volunteer for a charity group called Remap. It designs technology to help disabled people.
工程师David Sheffield和道Doug Watt自愿参加了一个名为Remap的慈善组织。该组织开发技术来帮助残疾人。

The two engineers are designing a wheelchair for Shot Put thrower Shaun Sewell. He lost the use of his legs thirteen years ago in a motorcycle accident. David Sheffield predicts the new wheelchair design will be used as a model for future athletes.
这两位工程师正在为轮椅铅球运动员Shaun Sewell设计轮椅。他在13年前的一次摩托车事故中失去了他的腿。David Sheffield预计这一新的轮椅设计将被用作未来奥运选手的模型。

DAVID SHEFFIELD: “We were asked to make a chair which was totally adjustable in every way so that we could then use it not only just for Shaun but for other athletes. And then we could find the exact correct positions for the way they sit, the way they hold the pole, the way they lean back and so on.”
DAVID SHEFFIELD：“有人让我们制造一种各方位完全可调节的椅子，这样它不仅可以让Shaun，还可以让其它运动员使用。那么，我们就可以找到他们坐下的方式，握杆的方式，怎么往后靠等等的确切状态。”

The engineers took all of Shaun Sewell’s measurements so that the chair was perfectly designed for his body. They also spent time watching him throw, to see how his body moves and where extra support was needed.
工程师测量了Shaun Sewell的所有尺寸，这样椅子就能根据他的身体完美设计出来。他们还花时间观看了他投球，看看他的身体如何移动，哪里需要额外支撑。

Shaun Sewell almost went to the Paralympic Games in Beijing in two thousand eight. But, he was unable to compete because of a life-threatening infection. He hopes to attend the twenty-sixteen games in Rio de Janiero. And he says the new wheelchair could help him get there.
Shaun Sewell几乎就去参加2008年北京残奥会了。但是，他因为一次危及生命的感染无法参加比赛。他希望参加2016年里约热内卢残奥会。他说，新轮椅可以帮助他去那里。

SHAUN SEWELL: “I believe it's going to make a huge difference. I'm throwing really well with the frame that I have now, which is not right for me. So to have something right is only going to help improve my distance.”
SHAUN SEWELL：“我相信这将产生巨大的变化。使用现在这个不适合我的装备我都扔得非常好。因此，有了适合我的装备，更会帮助提高我的投掷距离。”

Peter Parry is chairman of the trustees at Remap. He says its volunteers built devices for three of the athletes at the Paralympic Games in London. He says there are many rules about what technology is permitted.
Peter Parry是Remap组织的董事会主席。他说，该组织自愿为伦敦残奥会的三名运动员制造了设备。他说，在允许的技术方面有很多规则。

PETER PARRY: “We can help them support themselves. We can provide them with the pole to help them balance their body. But what we can’t do is have things like springs or hydraulics also, which would give them an unfair advantage. Because then it becomes a battle of who can make the best device rather than who is the best athlete.”
PETER PARRY：“我们可以帮助他们自力更生。我们可以为他们提供杆子，以帮助他们平衡自己的身体。但我们不能用那些会给他们不公平优势的弹簧或液压装置。因为那样就会变成谁可以制造最好装备，而不是谁是最好运动员的竞争。”

Jason Regier is a wheelchair rugby player. He helped the American team win a bronze medal in London. He says his team’s members have the same goals as any other athlete.
Jason Regier是一名轮椅橄榄球运动员。他在伦敦帮助美国队赢得了一枚铜牌。他说，他团队的成员与其他任何运动员有着同样的目标。

JASON REGIER: “I would say most of the Paralympic athletes just want to be treated as athletes. And it's not about just going 'oh, this is my poor situation,' it's about what you can do, not what you can't do.”
JASON REGIER：“我想说，大多数残奥会运动员只想被视为运动员。而这与身体状况无关。在于你能做什么，而不在于你不能做什么。”