史上今日：May 8
Russia has complained about the commercialisation of the LA Games1984: Moscow pulls out of US Olympics
England have
Twelve weeks before the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympic Games,
the USSR has announced it is boycotting them. It is expected most of the Eastern
Bloc will follow suit.
The announcement, which was made on Russian TV this afternoon, blamed the
commercialisation of the games and a lack of security measures, which amounted
to a violation of the Olympic charter.
The Soviet Union accused the United States of using the games "for
political purposes" and "stirring up anti-Soviet propaganda" and of having a
"cavalier attitude to security of Russian athletes".
In 1980 the USA and more than 60 other countries boycotted the Moscow
Olympics in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Top athletes
The Russians' withdrawal will devalue the Los Angeles Games far more than
the US boycott as it seems certain that top-class athletes from the Eastern Bloc
will also be prevented from taking part.
The White House denounced the move calling it a "blatant political
act".
John Hughes, a State Department spokesman, said the USA had "gone the extra
mile" to ensure adequate security measures were in place.
He took the opportunity to attack the USSR for its "barbarous behaviour" in
Afghanistan and its persecution of Russian dissidents such as Dr Andrei Sakharov
living in forced exile in the Russian town of Gorky.
Moscow has still not officially told the IOC of its boycott but there is
little hope that the decision will be reversed.
The former power station will show international modern art from 1900 to
the present day
2000: Sneak preview of new Tate Modern
Artificially 1969:
The
The Tate Modern art gallery in London has opened its doors to the world's
media ahead of the official opening by the Queen on May 11.
The world's largest modern art gallery is housed in a conversion of the
former power station on Bankside which cost ?34m and took four years to
reconstruct.
For the first time, people will be able to see most of the Tate's 20th
Century art collection. Before only a fragment of it could be displayed
Lars Nittve, Tate Modern Director
The new museum will have enough space to display works long hidden from
public view due to lack of space - international modern art from 1900 to the
present day by the artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol as well
as contemporary work by Dorothy Cross, Gilbert & George and Susan
Hiller.
The existing Tate Gallery further down the River Thames at Millbank has
been renamed Tate Britain.
The BBC Arts correspondent, Rosie Millard, visited the gallery and
described it as vast, with a cathedral-like quality which has earned it the
nickname Cathedral of Cool.
Three giant towers loom up inside the former power station's 115ft-high
turbine hall - retaining all the atmosphere of its industrial heritage.
From the former turbine hall visitors are swept up by escalator to some 84
galleries on three levels. The exhibits are illuminated by natural light from a
translucent roof.
The Tate Modern is defying the traditional way of displaying art - it is
not exhibited in chronological order or within the context of particular
historical movements, but by themes such as landscapes or still life.
The aim, say the Tate Modern's curators, is to challenge people and make
them look at art in a different way.
Director Lars Nittve believes all the effort has been worthwhile. "This
gallery is unique in the world," he said. "For the first time, people will be
able to see most of the Tate's 20th Century art collection. Before only a
fragment of it could be displayed."
But art critic and broadcaster David Lee was not entirely impressed. "We
need the Tate Modern and this is something we can build on, but I was a bit
disappointed by the minimalism and austerity of it all."
Vocabulary:
cavalier: showing arrogant or offhand disregard; dismissive(傲慢的，轻视的)
translucent: 半透明的
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