2008年3月3日，北京 – 作为北京2008年奥运会语言培训服务供应商，英孚教育“2008英孚奥运大使选拔赛”已于上周分别在上海、广州拉开序幕。本周“英孚特邀奥运大使”暨两次奥运奖牌得主克莉斯汀娜?沙坛来到北京，为此次“2008英孚奥运大使选拔赛”造势助阵。
美国游泳名将克莉斯汀娜?沙坛曾任美国国家游泳队队长之一，于1996年亚特兰大奥运会及2000年悉尼奥运会分别夺得一枚金牌和一枚铜牌。此次中国之行，沙坛女士先后造访上海、广州、北京三地总共10余所高中、大学和培训中心，并举办巡回演讲，分享自己奥运金牌选手职业生涯中所经历的挫折、失败以及取得成功的喜悦。学生们的热情参与及良好反馈，充分体现出此项全国性竞赛激励活动的意义。
沙坛女士为期一周的北京巡回演讲，将分别在北京市育英中学、北京市第八十中学、北京十一学校和对外经济贸易大学举行。此外，她还将参加英孚教育生活俱乐部举办的活动，与学生现场互动交流，分享其成为奥运冠军的职业生涯经历。
沙坛女士认为：“英孚教育和奥林匹克运动有着惊人相似的价值观，其目的都是打破语言、文化和地理的障碍。我非常乐于和中国学生交流。这期全国巡回讲座上，我给中国学生讲述我面临困境和克服挫折的人生故事，一起讨论怎样成为一个成功人士。”
“自从北京2008年奥运会语言培训服务供应商后，英孚教育一直以积极态度投入奥运会筹备工作中。截至目前，我们已几乎完成所有针对奥运会专业人员的语言培训，其中包括技术官员、奥组委工作人员、翻译人员和部分志愿者。”英孚教育中国区总裁比尔?费舍尔（Bill Fisher）先生表示，“此次‘英孚奥运大使选拔赛’旨在激发各个年龄段的普通老百姓学习英语备战奥运的热情。2008年北京奥运会是全中国人的民族盛事，而英孚教育能亲历其中微尽薄力，实属万分荣幸。”
“2008英孚奥运大使选拔赛”可通过网络提交或当面递交两种方式征集“奥运大使”候选人（中英文皆可），候选人需用文字、影像或图画等各种形式，自由补充这句假设：“如果我可以与全世界对话，我想说……。”全国地区城市决赛预计在今年五月逐个展开，六月中旬各地优胜者则将会聚上海进行全国总决赛，其中也包括从英孚青少儿学校和全国各中小学比赛选拔出来的选手。总冠军有望获得多项奖品，包括英孚教育暑期英语课程、英孚教育伦敦海外游学课程、奥运会门票等等。总决赛成绩则由奥组委审判员和英孚教育最高管理层组成的最高评委团决出。全国100多所英孚教育培训中心的学员们均有资格参加此次选拔赛，有意者可登录EF2008.blogcn.com报名参赛。
U.S. Gold Medalist Cristina Teuscher kicks off EF's Olympic Ambassador Campaign across China
EF English First kicks off its EF Olympic Ambassador campaign today with a series of events hosted in BEIJING/SHANGHAI/GUANGZHOU by U.S. swimming champion and two-time Olympic medalist, Cristina Teuscher.
¡°As the Official Language Training Services Supplier of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, EF English First has been intensely helping to prepare for the Olympics. We have nearly completed our English training for the large number of professionals involved in the Games which includes national technical officiers, BOCOG staff, translators, and interpreters.¡± says EF CEO Bill Fisher. ¡°Our EF Olympic Ambassador campaign aims to generate enthusiasm around English learning and the upcoming Olypmic Games, involving all age groups from adults to kids. There is a great sense of national pride associated with the upcoming Olympics and EF is delighted to be a part of it.¡±
The project manager of EF Olympic Ambassador campaign, Cristina Teuscher, to appear in China for the following two weeks to help kick off this campaign. Ms. Teuscher, a former Olympic gold and bronze medalist in swimming and co-captain of the U.S. National Swim Team, will hold a series of seminars for students at local high schools and at EF¡¯s schools in the city. Ms. Teuscher, who is a project manager for EF, says, ¡°EF and the Olympic Movement share similar values: to break down barriers of language, culture and geography. I am very happy to talk and meet Chinese students. During my seminar, I will talk about my experience and give advice to students on handling stressful situations and facing failure, as well as discuss strategies on how to be a successful person.¡±
EF¡¯s nation-wide campaign will select ¡°Olympic Ambassadors¡± based on entries submitted online or in person. Candidates have to complete the sentence, ¡°If I could talk to the world, I would...¡± in writing, video or drawings. City-wide finalists from across China held in May, will proceed to a national final to be held in Shanghai in mid-June. Final winners will be awarded a variety of prizes including: summer English courses at EF, study abroad courses with EF in London, tickets to the Olympics, and a host of others. Finalists will be judged by a distinguished panel including a BOCOG judge and top EF management. Students from all EF English First schools, nearly 100 across China, have been encouraged to enter. Interested entrants can go online at EF2008.blogcn.com to enter this competition.