全美拼字大赛遗憾取消
There will be no fidgeting at the National Spelling Bee microphone, no banter with pronouncer Jacques Bailly, no pointed questions about definitions or languages of origin, no dreaded bell that signals a misspelled word.
今年我们将看不到全美拼字比赛麦克风边选手们坐立不安的样子，听不到发音员雅克斯·巴里风趣的幽默，不会有关于发源语和定义的高难度问题 ，也不会听到有人拼错单词时的刺耳的铃声了。
This year's Scripps National Spelling Bee was canceled Tuesday, the latest beloved public event to be scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.
今年的斯克里普斯全美拼字比赛周二时宣布取消了，而这个深受喜爱的大众节目取消的原因就是疫情的爆发。
The bee will return next year, Scripps said, but that's little comfort to the eighth-graders who are missing out on their last shot at the national stage.
斯特里普斯公司称明年这个节目还会再办，但对于那些八年级的学生来说已经于事无补，因为他们已经错过了最后一次登上全国舞台的机会。
Scripps will not change eligibility requirements for the next bee, which is scheduled for June 1-3, 2021.
斯克里普斯公司不会改变下一届拼字大赛的参赛资格，而比赛日期初定于2021年的6月1号到3号。
The bee, which began in 1925 and was last canceled from 1943-45 because of World War II, has always been restricted to elementary and middle-schoolers.
全美拼字大赛始创于1925年，在1943到1945年间，曾因为世界第二次世界大战而取消，这种比赛一直都是出中小学生参加的。
“I'm totally shattered and devastated,” said 14-year-old Navneeth Murali of Edison, New Jersey, who would have been among the favorites at this year's bee.
“我感到非常的震惊和绝望，”新泽西州爱迪生市14岁的纳尼思·穆雷里说，他本来是今年的拼字大赛的种子选手。
“Spelling has basically been my life for so many years. ... I put all my effort into the chance of winning Scripps, and this morning I found out it was all gone.”
“这么多年来拼字已经成了我生命中的一部分，我竭尽全力地为赢得拼字大赛做准备，而今天早上我发现它竟然取消了。”
Navneeth's father, Murali Samu, and other parents of eighth-graders said Scripps should find a way to allow them to compete, either by holding a smaller, invitation-only bee this year or by letting select ninth-graders return in 2021.
纳尼思的爸爸穆雷里·萨姆以及其他的八年级学生的父母们称，斯克里普斯应该想法让他们去参赛，要么举办一个更小型的只有受邀选手才能参加的比赛，要么就在2021年时让选定的九年级学生作为选手回归。
Scripps has no such plans, at least for now.
不过截至目前，斯克里普斯思还没有相关的计划。
“My heart goes out to every one of those kids affected. As a former speller, all I can say is I can only imagine, and my heart breaks for them,” said Paige Kimble, the bee's longtime executive director and the 1981 champion.
“我的心里记挂着每一个受到影响的孩子，作为一个之前的拼字选手，如今我也只能说也去想象他们所经历的打击。我的心也为他们感到难过，”佩吉·基博说，他是这次拼字比赛的执行长官，也是1981年度的拼字冠军。
“Our eighth-grade spellers are much like the class of 2020 high school seniors, in the ranks of many enduring heartbreak as a result of these pandemic circumstances.”
“我们八年级的品质选手们就像2020届的高三学生一样，他们都因为这种疫情的大环境受到的各种持续性的不良的影响。”
Hundreds of kids compete every year in the national finals, which are televised by ESPN, and Scripps was aiming this year for a field of around 400.
每年都有上百个孩子参加全国总决赛这场比赛会有ESPN电台进行直播，而斯克里普斯原计划今年的总决赛会有400人参加。
“The Bee has determined there is no clear path to safely set a new date in 2020,” Scripps said in a statement, noting “uncertainty around when public gatherings will be possible or advisable.”
“拼字比赛的组委会发现，今年没办法确定出某一个日期是可以安全举办比赛，”斯克里普斯在一则声明中说道，“因为公众聚会什么时候才能够被允许真的不清楚。”
文中提到拼字比赛首创于哪一年？
留言回复正确答案，前10名朋友可以获得红包奖励哦，赶快来试试吧。