China Reflects on Olympic Successes

In the 100 yrs of modern Olympic history, China is the first Asian country to prevail in the gold medal count. China is elated...

From the People's Daily, 26 August 2008
(http://2008.people.com.cn/GB/130625/130630/132732/index.html)

北京奥运会大幕于8月24日晚徐徐1落幕2。16天大战，中国奥运军团实现3历史性大突破4，以51枚金牌的战绩5首次坐上金牌榜首席位置，奖牌总数则达到6了100 枚。北京奥运会，东道主中国代表团展现了高超的竞技7水平和良好的道德风尚，实现了新的突破。从雅典8金牌榜的第二名跃升9到北京奥运会的第一名，在百年奥运史 上，中国是第一个荣登金牌榜首位的亚洲国家、发展中国家。中国为奥林匹克运动做出了杰出10的贡献，书写了崭新的一页11。 中国代表团不仅在跳水、乒乓 球、女子举重、体操12、射击、羽毛球等传统优势项目上继续保持着高水平，还在击剑13、射箭、赛艇14、帆板、蹦床、拳击15、曲棍球、艺术体操、沙滩排球16、花样游泳等 诸多过去相对落后的项目上实现了突破，可喜可贺17！

1 xu2xu2 (adverb): slowly/gently
2 luo4mu4 (verbal phrase): falling of the curtain
3 shi2xian4 (verb): to realize (a goal--not an idea)
4 tu1po4 (noun/verb): breakthrough
5 zhan4ji1 (noun): battle-accomplishment
6 da2dao4 (verb): to reach (a number, a goal)
7 jing4ji4 (noun): tournament
8 Ya3dian3 (proper noun): Athens
9 yue4sheng1 (verb): leap up
10 jie2chu1 (adjective): illustrious
11 shu1xie3 le zhan3xin1 de yi1ye4 (verb): write a brand new page in the book (of history)
12 ti3cao1 (noun): gymnastics
13 ji1jian4 (noun): fencing
14 sai4ting3 (noun): rowing (crew)
15 quan2ji1 (noun): boxing
16 sha1tan1pai2qiu2 (noun): beach volleyball
17 ke3xi3ke3he4 (phrase): congratulations!/hoorah!