本帖最后由 软式排球 于 2012-6-18 20:37 编辑
Lucy Wicks is bored of talking about funding cuts. Something as trivial as not receiving any financial backing was not going to get in the way of the opportunity to become the first British women's indoor volleyball team to compete at an Olympics. "We were very angry at the time and didn't really understand it," Wicks said. "But we made the decision that it didn't matter whether we had funding or not, or what else was thrown in our way as an obstacle, the chance to represent our country at a home Olympics was what we wanted." Without public backing, Team GB have funded their own way to London with money-making schemes such as a sponsored bike ride from Sheffield to the capital and the "Adopt an Olympian" programme,where schools hold fundraising events in exchange for blogs, visits, interviews and training from a member of the squad.
As well as raising money, the team have also had to find ways to save cash, particularly in the summer months when they return to the UK after playing professionally in leagues across Europe during the winter. Last year, while they were training in Dorset, 16 players were housed by Wicks' parents and two of their neighbours. This year, the whole squad is spending the summer living at the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue training centre in Sheffield. "We trained down in Poole and went into 10 or 15 schools," Wicks continued. "My mum did a really good job, she fed us and got us some free meals at local restaurants in exchange for the odd signed photo. My mum's very organised, she's great at getting things done. "This year, we got a really good deal with the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue training centre. They're putting us up for the whole summer. We've got everything we need here, they're so helpful.
"Firemen come here to do training in the daytime, when we're out, then we stay in the rooms. "We haven't seen many of the firemen, but they're loving having an Olympic volleyball team wandering around." Twenty players are training in Sheffield, but only 12 will be named in the Olympic squad in June, meaning eight who have effectively put their lives on hold in order to compete in London will miss out. "Every player has sacrificed a lot over the past four or five years, so for those who miss out it will be devastating," added Wicks, whose licence as a physiotherapist has lapsed during her bid to compete at the Games. "Careers take a back seat, finances take a back seat. People used to own houses, or have boyfriends and a proper career. All of those things have disappeared for this one goal. "But even those who don't make it I think will look back with no regrets." Wicks insists the hosts, who do not have to qualify for the Games, will not be there simply to make up the numbers. GB are aiming for a top-eight finish, an ambition that does not seem so fanciful after a recent 3-2 win over Peru, a side ranked 17 in the world. "Whatever we achieve at the end of it we can say we've done it all ourselves," said Wicks. "Everything that has been thrown in our way, we've overcome. "We're still going for exactly the same goals that we would have done had we had funding, that hasn't changed, because we still believe we can make the top eight at the Olympics."
Wicks points out that, as the first British team to compete in the sport at an Olympics, GB will be making history regardless of their results. A noteworthy achievement indeed, but one made all the more special by the path they have had to take to London. "As I look back on my Olympic journey, I know I wouldn't have done anything different," Wicks concluded. "Everything that's in my control, I wouldn't change. Things like funding, we don't have any control over, but it would have been great if we'd had a bit more financial support. "We appreciate what we have now. It's not easy to represent your country and it's not meant to be easy, you've got to work hard, whether it's to try to raise money or to try to figure our what you're going to cook that doesn't cost very much, it's all part of the challenge, but it's got to be done. "For everyone who is part of Team GB it will mean a lot, but for us, who know the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into getting us there, it will mean even more."
可怜的Great Britain (GB) 女排。。。 我大概说说文中比较有意思的几段吧。2010年，伦敦决定取消女子排球参加伦敦奥运会的公共资金支持，这意味着英国女排参加奥运将得不到任何从政府的资助。没有钱发工资，没有钱租场馆，没有钱付房租。。。但是GB女排通过她们自己的一系列努力保存了参加奥运的希望。。。她们也将是历史上第一支参加奥运会的英国女子排球队。
Wicks是女排中的一员，她说当初听说取消女排资金支持的消息的时候非常生气，但是姑娘们很快打定主意：“不管有没有资金支持，在伦敦代表我们的祖国参加奥运会是我们所要的，不管这条路有多么大的险阻”。。。
为了赢得必要的资金支持，GB 女排开展了一系列集资活动。比如为了获得公众的资金支持，她们全队从谢菲尔德骑车到伦敦。。。此外还有诸如“领养一个奥运会运动员”的活动。。。
不同于其他拥有政府支持的运动队，GB女排做什么都要想着省钱。去年她们在Dorset集训的时候，她们16个人分别住在队友Wicks的父母家，还有两个邻居家里。而今年，为了找到免费的训练场馆，她们搬到了谢菲尔德的火警训练中心。。。白天消防员们在训练中心训练，她们则利用场馆的空余时间进行训练。。。
过去的6年里，她们为了奥运这个梦想做了巨大的牺牲。。。所有都为奥运让路：她们的职业，她们的金钱。。。有的人卖了房子，有的人男朋友跑了，有的人丢了不错的工作。。。这一切都为了奥运。
英国女排刻苦训练的原因不仅是为了参加奥运，她们有自己的目标：前八。。。战胜世界排名17的秘鲁后前8似乎不是遥不可及的梦想。。。
看完后，我挺感动的。。。她们站在奥运会的赛场上已经就是胜利，为她们鼓掌吧Team GB
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