Alipay is investing heavily to grow women's soccer in China

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海词积累

1. commitment /kə΄mɪtmənt/ n. 承诺

2. sponsorship /΄spɒnsə∫ɪp/ n. 资助

3. attach /ə΄tæt∫/ v. 附上

4. prowess /΄praʊəs/ n. 非凡的技能

5. pitch /pɪt∫/ n. 场地

6. reckon with 重视；认真处理

Alipay is taking the lead on a 1-billionyuan （$145 million）commitmentto support Chinese women's soccer over the next decade. It is the biggest investment in women's soccer in China ever. “Alipay wants to bring technology，funds and resources to better support the development of women's soccer in China，” a spokesman for the company said. He also noted that it is not asponsorship， so it comes with no commercial stringsattached. The money will be used to support the performance improvement of the China women's national football team and the development of young players.

The prize for the 2018 Men's World Cup stood at $400 million， while female players received $30 million this year. Gianni Infantino，president of global soccer's governing body FIFA， said the organization would double it for the next Women's World Cup in 2023. Rapinoe，who scored one of the two goals in the final，said female athletes didn't gain as much respect as male athletes. “It certainly is not fair，” she said. “We should double it now and use that number to double it for the next time.”

China， meanwhile， has been trying to build up its prowess in the sport. The Chinese government in 2016 unveiled a plan to transform the country into a “soccer powerhouse” by 2050， investing in thousands of training programs and football pitches.

The China women's national team was once a force to be reckoned with， making it to the 1999 World Cup final where it lost to the United States. But it has slipped down to 16th in the global rankings， and got knocked out before the quarterfinals of this year's tournament. Alipay hopes to change that. The company wants to be the strongest advocate for China women's soccer，CEO Eric Jing said in a statement.

—From CNN

Reading Check

True( T ) or False( F )

（ ）1. Alipay's investment is the biggest in women's soccer in China ever.

（ ）2. The investment is a sponsorship with commercial strings attached.

（ ）3. The prize for the 2018 Women's World Cup stood at $400 million.

（ ）4. China has been trying to build up its ability in women's soccer.

（ ）5. The China women's national team was once a powerful team in the 1990s.

Language Study

Sentences for writing

1. 中国政府于2016年公布一个计划——通过投资大量的训练项目和足球场地使中国在2050年之前变成一个“足球强国”。

The Chinese government in 2016 unveiled a plan to transform the country ________a “soccer powerhouse” by 2050，__________________thousands of training programs and football pitches.

2. 中国女足曾经也是一支被看好的球队，1999年的世界杯决赛中败给美国女足，获得亚军。

The China women's national team was once a force to be reckoned with， making it to the 1999 World Cup final _________it lost to the United States.