《中英對照讀新聞》Backers of Boston Olympics call for statewide referendum on bid 波士頓奧運贊助商呼籲全州就申奧舉行公投

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The backers of Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games called on Tuesday for a statewide referendum in 2016 on whether the bid should go forward, adding that they would abandon the attempt without majority support statewide and in Boston.

波士頓申辦2024年奧運的贊助商週二呼籲，在2016年針對是否繼續申辦舉行全州公投，並補充表示，若沒有全州與波士頓的多數支持，他們可能放棄贊助。

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The proposal, made by John Fish, a construction executive serving as chairman of the Boston 2024 Partnership, came in the wake of a poll last week that found most residents of the greater Boston area oppose hosting the Summer Games.

在上週一項民調發現，大波士頓地區多數居民反對主辦奧運之後，波士頓2024贊助夥伴主席、建設公司執行長約翰．費雪提出了這項提案。

Since the U.S. Olympic Committee in January named Boston as its surprise pick to seek what would be the nation’s first Olympics since the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the idea has run into a groundswell of public opposition, with many expressing the worry that city taxpayers would have to foot much of the estimated $9.5 billion cost.

自從美國奧林匹克委員會一月出人意料地提名波士頓爭取申辦該國自2002年鹽湖城冬季奧運以來首次的奧運會後，該計畫遭遇了公眾的強烈反對聲浪，許多民眾憂心舉辦奧運預估所需的95億美元成本中，大多數得由該市納稅人支付。

Mayor Marty Walsh said he backed the idea of a referendum.

市長馬提．華許表示，他支持公投的主意。

新聞辭典

referendum：名詞，公民投票。

in the wake of ：片語，繼……之後。例句：There is no tsunami in the wake of the earthquake.（地震之後並沒有發生海嘯。）

foot：作動詞可指步行；付帳單、費用。例句：Eddie will foot the bill for dinner.（艾迪會付晚餐的錢。）