Page 6 August 26, 2014 NANJING 2014 YOUTH RE PORTERS PROGRAM

IVAN BOYANOV, 23, has worked as a report- er, producer, commentator and studio anchor in sports at TV7, Bulgaria’s leading television channel since 2010. “The Olympic Games has always inspired me as a journalist. It is the pinnacle in the career of any sports reporter and I am so lucky to be a part of this movement. Being a successful sports journalist has been my lifelong dream and the Youth Olympic Games is my golden ticket to achieve success on an international platform.”

DIEGO MELENDRERAS, 22, is a student from YOUNG AND RESTLESS Guatemala and has a pen- Reporters with the International Olympic Committee Young Reporters Program pose with IOC president Thomas Bach (center) at the Youth Olympic Games chant for filmmaking. in Nanjing. The program is training 35 reporters from five continents at the Youth Games the fundamentals of sports journalism. PHOTO BY XINHUA

figures such as her role model, “It took a while for the realization One athlete’s advantage Luciana Aymar, an Argentine to sink in that I had been selected midfielder con- for the Young Reporters Program. By SUN XIAOCHEN sidered among the best female [email protected] track and field at the Nanjing hockey players of all time. It is an opportunity that I know Olympic Sports Center on Sat- Aymar is the only player to will shape the course of my future. Journalism training plus a urday. be selected by the International solid sports background equal Hailing from , Hockey Federation as Player of Living in Guatemala, a country with a bright career for Maria Caro- 23-year-old Cabella started to the Year eight times. 23 languages, has made me accept line Cabella. play hockey at 6 and is a solid “Hockey has been very popu- diversity in all its sizes and colors.” Keen to make a career out of midfielder for the B team of Ciu- lar since 2000 when the nation- sports journalism, Cabella has dad De Buenos Aires Club in the MARIA CAROLINE al team won a silver medal at YASMINE CABELLA done the athletic part by play- Argentine league’s first division. the Sydney Olympics, led by TORCHE, ing field hockey for years, and An intern at Clarin, the big- Still, the outgoing Argentine Aymar. I was inspired by Aymar 24, is an enthusiastic now she is expecting to make up gest newspaper in , is seeking all-around training to to play hockey,” Cabella said of sports journalist from the other component by work- Cabella has added a spark to improve her skills and knowl- the star’s impact. Algeria. ing through the Young Report- the newsroom. edge as a reporter. Cabella has also discovered a ers Program during the Nanjing “I think that (my athletic expe- “Here I can learn about passion for some other sports Youth Olympic Games. rience) is an advantage for me. broadcasting, social media and at the Youth Olympics, such as “I like to combine journalism I can understand their feelings photography. We have excel- beach volleyball. “The Youth Olympic Games is not and sports together. This pro- better after going through the lent mentors who have covered “I think beach volleyball is just about sports and competition gram for me is a great opportu- same hard work to be successful. many Olympics. I want to learn very interesting to watch, espe- nity to learn about every aspect “I can relate to them about as much as I can.” cially for boys. There are some but also about making long-lasting of journalism. I definitely want how they feel. Perhaps, I can Despite being a rookie report- pretty girls running and jump- friendships and relationships with to make a career out of this,” approach them in a different er, Cabella’s interview list has ing in bikinis,” Cabella said jok- young people from across the globe. Cabella said before covering and better way,” said Cabella. already included some notable ingly. Hence, I am excited to be a part of such a diverse and talented batch of was awarded the “Young Jour- Tackling every medium nalist of the Year Award 2013” young reporters.” by the Media Association of PALLAVI By SUN XIAOCHEN the Island Sun Newspaper in Solomon Islands. PRASAD, [email protected] Honiara, the capital city. Following in his father’s 20, is an English literature “Our newspaper has a web- steps in becoming a journalist, graduate from India and The wave of multimedia site. We are encouraged to Ta’asi is aware of the challeng- is a senior editor at online development is surging around not only write stories (for the es working in the media indus- portal India Opines. the world, reshaping the land- paper) but also to do audios try but remains determined to scape of the media industry, and take photographs and vid- make the most of it. even in small countries like the eos (for the website). But due to “The life (as a journalist) can Solomon Islands. a lack of experiences in multi- ERNEST TA’ASI be tough. My father used to be “This is an opportunity for me to Ernest Ta’asi, a young jour- media, I haven’t done too well.” media requires we deliver a journalist and he never came contribute my bit, albeit small, to nalist from the Pacific islands However, the IOC Young everything first before you see home early. You see some jour- the world, by producing true, honest country, has built his name as Reporters Program has provid- it on TV or paper. You just need nalists get divorced. Journalists a prominent news writer since ed Ta’asi with the perfect plat- to throw yourself into an event don’t have stable relationships content about the Youth Olympic starting his career in 2010 but form to enhance those skills. like the Youth Olympics and and they are not very well paid Games and giving people, especially remains a little overwhelmed “Sports events are an ideal then try to work it out,” said but people do things they love,” when having to cover events in stage to learn multimedia prac- the 23-year-old. he said. the youth, access to these stories to various forms. tices because everything here Starting his career as a “My dream is to become a inspire and learn from them, be it “I only worked as a print (the results and comments) need sports writer, Ta’asi trans- prominent journalist in my sports, journalism, or simply the reporter. Broadcasting is a total- to be shared as quickly as pos- ferred to cover more serious country, to see my work recog- ly new thing for me,” said Ta’asi, sible and in all available forms. genres like politics and envi- nized and appreciated by the hope that if my dreams can come who works as a news writer at “The development of social ronment issues in 2012, and public,” said Ta’asi. true, so can theirs.”