Olympic Champions

The difference between winning and being a champion.

In the opening ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Saturday, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, had these words of advice for the young athletes competing in Singapore: "You will learn the difference between winning and being a champion. To win, you merely have to cross the finish line first. To be a champion, you have to inspire admiration for your character, as well as for your physical talent."

At the time, I didn't think much about it. It sounded like the polite thing to say to 3,600 competitors—most of whom would go back home after two weeks without a medal.

Since hearing that speech, however, I have witnessed a couple of amazing events that brought those words to life.

First, I attended the finals of the 3M springboard diving competition. It was won handily by Bo Qiu from China. Michael Hixon, from the U.S., came from behind in the last dive of the night to grab the bronze.

I caught up with Michael after his dive and he was glowing.

“It was pretty awesome," he said. "I was a little nervous before the last dive, but I knew what I had to do, and I did it."

However, the competition really stood out for me because of the performance of Tom Daley. Tom, 16, is the reigning world champion from the 10M platform. He represented Great Britain in Beijing in 2008 at the age of 13. Girls were standing outside the venue with 'I Love You Tom' painted on their cheeks. He's a celebrity!

Tom injured himself earlier this year, but rather than missing the Youth Olympic Games altogether, he decided to compete in the 3M springboard event because it hurts a little less. His third jump of the night was horrible. He didn't complete the last rotation and nearly landed flat on his stomach. That must not have happened to him in years. The crowd gasped, and everyone knew right then that he was not going to medal.

Tom had two more jumps to go, but rather than giving up, he smiled at the crowd and nailed them both! He knew he had lost any chance for a medal—he ended up 9th—but he finished it off in style.

It must have hurt a lot physically as well, because immediately after the last dive, he had an enormous ice pack on his arm and shoulder. You know what he said to me afterward?

"I'm very disappointed,” he said, “but it was an amazing experience."

Sign me up to Tom's fan club!

The second amazing event was in the finals of the girls' 2000m steeplechase, which took place under a steady rain. Anastasiya Puzakova from Belarus fell hard on one of the jumps after only one lap. She crashed on the track, and it took her so much time to get up that we all thought she had broken her wrist, or her ankle.

Anastasiya stood up and continued the race. It hurt me just to watch, because we all could see she was limping. We could also hear her screams of pain as she made her way around the track. She finished a minute and a half behind winner Virginia Nyambura from Kenya, but for her last stretch, the crowd was on its feet and cheering her on.

She collapsed after the finish line and was escorted from the track by the medical staff under a shower of applause. Anastasiya didn't give interviews after the race because she was being treated—she injured her knee pretty bad—but I saw her in a wheelchair before catching a bus back to the Olympic Village.

Even though I could see the pain in her eyes, she held her head high. She showed us all what it really meant to compete and do your very best. She showed me what it meant to be a champion.

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Anastasiya Puzakova from Belarus is escorted from the track after the 2000m steeplechase finals. (Photo by Charlotte Samson)

The Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico

Native Americans still live in pueblos over 500 years old.

The Acoma Pueblo is the oldest still inhabited community in North America. The ancient village of pueblo homes can be found on top of a 365-foot tall mesa to the west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pueblo actually dates to over 1,200 years ago and some of the buildings that are still standing have been there for over 500 years.

"The view is amazing," said Jenna Porter who traveled from South Dakota for a family vacation to see the Acoma Pueblo. "It looks even prettier than pictures of the Pueblo we saw before we came.” Jenna read about the Pueblo at her school, she explained, as she followed a Acoma Pueblo Native American guide on a tour.

Thousands of visitors come to the Acoma Pueblo each year from around the world for a living history tour of the village. The Acoma Mesa is the only Native American site named as a National Trust Historic Site. Visitors are only able to visit if they take the guided tour led by a tribal member. A bus picks you up at the Sky City Cultural Center and takes you to the top of the hill to see the adobe homes.

You also meet artists who sell pottery and jewelry. Pictures are only allowed if visitors request a camera permit at the visitor center. Permits are attached to cameras so that people who live there know that it is OK to be photographed.

"I've never seen anything like this before," said Camille Coehlo who traveled from Boston, Massachusetts, to see the Acoma Pueblo.

Camille enjoyed a traditional lunch of fry bread baked in outdoor horno ovens that is served at the Yaak'a Cafe. She visited the Haak'u Museum and Gaits'j Gallery to learn about the Acoma people and their traditions before boarding the tour bus to the Pueblo village.

"I'm impressed by this cultural experience,” she said. “It provides so much insight about the people who have lived here for so many years.”

The tour guide shows visitors two and three story adobe structures. Some of the buildings have outside ladders to climb to get into the upper levels of the houses. There are a few homes where visitors are allowed to go inside to buy pottery and jewelry. Most of the artists stand outside to greet the guests. Tables are set up with hand crafted jewelry and traditional olla pots that are hand coiled with clay dug from the grounds of the Pueblo.

"The Acomas are a matriarachal society," explains the tour guide. "That means that the homes on the mesa are passed on from mother to daughter and owned by the women, not the men. The families that get to live there are chosen by the tribal council as a family honor.”

Cannon damage from 1540 can still be seen on the side of some of the houses in the mesa. The damage was from the first time the Acoma Pueblo came under enemy attack by the Spaniards who decided to colonize the area. The village was burned and hundreds of Acomans were killed and made slaves. Visitors can see evidence left behind from that time.

You can also see one of the oldest churches in New Mexico, the San Esteban Del Rey Mission, which was built by the Spaniards. Of the 6,000 Acomans alive today, only about 50 actually live year around in the village. Most tribal members live in homes on the nearby reservation.

Native Americans from the Acoma Pueblo gather on the mesa for feast day celebrations and public events throughout the year. Celebrations include their St. Esteban Feast Day in September, the Acoma Pueblo luminarias and dances in December, and the Governor's Feast Day in February.

—Jacob Schroeder

PHOTOS: (TOP) The pueblo homes of Acoma Native Americans in New Mexico. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Jacob Schroeder with an Acoma guide at the pueblos. (Photos Courtesy Jacob Schroeder)

Find Finkle for a Fun Read

 Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher/Release Date: Scholastic Press; 1 edition/March 16, 2010

Number of Pages: 240

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out by Meg Cabot is a fun and enjoyable book that all girls can relate to. This book is filled with drama on every page—you won’t want to stop reading it.

Allie and her friends are back in the fifth book in the series on a new adventure that takes Allie on a journey to find who her true friends are.

Allie’s mom is the movie reviewer on a local news show called Good News! The mother of Allie’s ex-friend Brittney calls her mom to talk about the show. She also invites Allie to Brittney’s birthday and Allie wants to go. The problem is, her friend Erica’s sister is in a baton twirling competition on the same day at the same time and it is important for her to be there.

Allie has a big decision to make: she could either tell Brittney she can't make it or come up with a big lie to tell her friends about why she couldn’t come to the baton twirling competition.

I really enjoyed this part because it made me think about what I would do if I were in Allie’s situation. Her mom told her a little about what the party was going to be like—they were going to ride in a limo! Allie didn’t want to miss out on the fun, but she didn’t want to lie to her friends either.

I really enjoyed all of the different personalities in this book. Along with Allie (who tries to stick to her book of rules), you’ll meet her friend, Erica (who is always trying to look at the positive side of things), and Brittney (who is always bossy), and many more!

I wanted to read this book because I’ve read the other books in series and really enjoyed them. I can always relate to Allie and her situations. When I read any book in the series, I feel like I’m Allie’s best friend. I can relate her relationships with her friends to my relationships with my friends.

As I came closer to the end of the book, I wished I hadn’t been reading so fast. I would recommend Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out as a great book for anyone who loves a fun book and a relatable story.

—By Alexis Wiseman

PHOTOS: (TOP) Cover Courtesy Scholastic (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Alexis Wiseman in her favorite reading chair. (Photo Courtesy Alexis Wiseman)

Fast and Furious at the YOG!

Kid Reporter—and table tennis teams—finally get into the games!

After a week in Singapore, I've finally received my official media accreditation for the Youth Olympic Games! Yes!

First stop: table tennis. What an experience! Stepping into the National Indoor Stadium, hearing the rapid-fire clatter of the hollow celluloid balls, the cheers of the crowd. I never imagined how intense this sport can be!

The players are grunting, shouting, pumping fists... They're sweating so much that they have to wipe their hands on the tables between points.

You've surely heard people refer to this sport as 'ping-pong,' which is cute, but did you know that it was once called 'whiff-whaff?' Nothing whiffy or whaffy about it, let me tell you—this is fast and furious.

It just happens that I showed up on the first day of the tournament. Like me, the competitors in table tennis had to wait one full week before getting into the action. I asked some of them how they handled the wait.

“It was confusing at first, but I practiced every day and I adapted well to the situation," said Ojo Onaolapo from Nigeria after his first win. Ojo came out on top of his group in the first stage. He came through the second stage as well to reach the Quarterfinals.

Simon Bauzy, from Toulouse, France, and the 3rd seed at the beginning of the tournament, thought that the one week wait was frustrating.

“We couldn't take part in some of the fun activities at the Olympic Village," he said. He used the time preparing for the competition, which paid off. He’s playing in the semi-finals today.

Celine Pang, also from France, thought that "the wait was tiring" and was disappointed not to come out of her first stage group. But she was fantastic today in the consolation bracket and won all of her matches.

These players are young, but already they're professionals. They know how to handle a difficult schedule and use it to their advantage.

For me, waiting for my accreditation was very frustrating. Honestly, I was a nervous wreck! But I'm learning from these top competitors. Patience is a virtue. Good things come to those who wait.

I'm super excited that I now have access to the venues, and I'll be rushing to cover as many events as I can!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTOS: (TOP) Fast and furious table tennis action at the National Indoor Stadium at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. (Photo Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

"Rules" Rules as a Rad Read

Rules

Author: Cynthia Lord

Publisher/Date: Scholastic Paperbacks/Reprint edition, September 1, 2008

No. of Pages: 224

Reading level: Ages 9-12

The book I am reading this summer is Rules by Cynthia Lord. The book is about a 12-year-old girl named Catherine and her 8-year-old brother David, who has autism.

David likes to go to the video store, walk down the rows, and read the back of the movie cases. He then shouts out the movies’ ratings really loud.

“RATED PG-13!” he’ll yell.

He is given specific rules he has to follow. One of them is about cellar doors. When a cellar door is open, he is supposed to shut it. When David goes to the home of one of Catherine’s friends, he runs all over the place looking for a cellar door. However, the friend’s house is a mobile home, so there is no cellar door.

Catherine feels humiliated having him around when she goes places. But she likes to make rules and David loves to follow them, so she tries to come up with rules for David to follow so she does not get embarrassed.

Kristi, who is also 12, moves next door to Catherine and David. When the siblings are on the porch waiting for their dad, David starts crying because their father is late. Kristi comes over to ask Catherine if her brother is OK.

Catherine is mad at David for embarrassing her in front of someone she was trying to impress and gain as a friend. But David doesn’t realize what Catherine is feeling.

One day on the way to occupational therapy for David, Catherine meets a kid named Jason who can’t walk or talk. The only way he can communicate is through a special book of words. After two weeks of going to OT with David, Catherine becomes friends with Jason and makes him new words to use for his book.

Through this experience, Catherine learns that David can’t help being different and that David’s problem is nothing compared to Jason’s. By the end of the book, you can see Catherine’s feelings for David change from embarrassed to understanding.

Read the book to find out if Catherine becomes friends with Kristi and if her friendship with Jason will last. I really like this book and highly recommend it for a great read.

—Liam Childers

PHOTO: Book Cover Courtesy Scholastic Paperbacks

NOTE: What did you read that you loved this summer? Use the blue comment link below to let us know!

Spain Wins Bronze in Taekwondo

Bumping Into Athletes While Awaiting Media Accreditation

My adventure at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore continues. I am still waiting for my media accreditation, but I've been assured that my application is being fast-tracked. I should be able to gain access to the venues and athletes very soon!

For now, I have to rely on luck to catch up with athletes outside of the venues. Of course, it helps that the athletes are often dressed head to toe in his or her country's uniform!

That was how I nabbed an interview with Nagore Irigoien of Spain in the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Once I spotted her, I scrambled to get my notebook and pen from my dad's backpack. I then ran after her and introduced myself.

Nagore, 17, comes from Bilbao, Spain. She placed 3rd in the 63kg Taekwondo competition the night before—a bronze medal at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games! Not too shabby! No wonder she and her family were smiling so big when I snapped their picture!

Taekwondo is an ancient art. Its origins can be traced back 2000 years in Korea. Its name literally means "The Way of Kicking and Punching," which sounds sort of random and wild. However, the practice of Taekwondo involves an enormous amount of technique that takes athletes years to develop.

"I've been doing Tawkwondo for 10 years," Nagore said. "I’ve been competing for the last five years. Of course Taekwondo isn't as popular as football or basketball in Spain, but it's a great success nonetheless."

Nagore competed in Mexico earlier this year to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games. With her final competition now over, she can relax a little. I asked her what she was able to do in Singapore so far besides competing. She was quick to mention the Singapore Flyer, the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world! It’s nearly 550 feet tall.

Her spirits are also flying high after her Bronze medal win. Congratulations, Nagore!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Nagore Irigoien (center) of Spain celebrates her bronze medal win in Taekwondo with her family and friends. (Photo Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

Loving The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord

Author: Cornelia Funke

Publisher/Date: Scholastic/ 2001

Length: 345 pages

Recommended reading age: 7-11

In Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord, the author introduces readers to the spectacular city of Venice, Italy, where magical things happen before your very eyes. This is where two young runaway brothers, Prosper and Bo, embark on an adventure they—and you—will never forget.

The two young orphans run away to Venice when their heinous aunt and uncle limit their freedom to about the size of a dust particle. There, they join a group of other orphaned street kids: Riccio, Mosca, and Hornet.

The street children are led by a mysterious and cunning boy, Scipio, who names himself “The Thief Lord.” However, Scipio hides a shocking truth from his friends, which leds Prosper and Bo through a series of twists and turns, changing their lives forever.

This story is more than an exciting plot. It includes a message hidden between the lines.

Funke focuses on family. Scipio, or the Thief Lord, resembles a father figure in most of this story. He manages to find a home for all his friends and he makes enough money for them to live comfortably.

Additionally, the five other street kids act like siblings to one another. This family love between all six of them makes their bond much stronger.

You’ll also meet other characters that strengthen this bond as well as characters who will try to loosen it. Funke’s message to her readers is that friends and family will always be there for you, no matter how far away they may seem.

The Thief Lord is definitely a novel worth reading and I promise you that you will never regret picking it up.

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO:

NOTE: What are you reading this summer? Use the blue comment link below to let us know!

Where it Snows in Summer

Bay area Kid Reporter loses her heart to Switzerland.

This summer, I took my first trip to Europe. In 10 days, we traveled to England, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany. By far my favorite destination out of all of these was Switzerland.

First we visited Engelberg, which is a small town nestled beneath the giant Alps. We took the Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car—the first of its kind!—up to the very top of the mountain. Did you know that Mount Titlis is 10,623 feet tall? That's more than two miles high!

Because of the high elevation, it was snowing. Imagine that! For us Americans, snow in the summer is a bit of a shock. In addition to snow tubes and toboggans (which I went on again and again), there was a special type of sled that looked like a toy motorcycle with handlebars. Apparently, the Swiss love to have fun!

They also love chocolate. In Lucerne, the next city we visited, I saw packages of the treat in every window, and a milk chocolate fountain running in almost all the bakeries! I watched a chocolatier at work in a local candy shop. The confectionery they create with just some chocolate, icing, and food coloring is incredible!

Also in the city is the famous Lion Monument, a sculpture carved into the side of a rock. It shows an injured lion that is so wounded you can almost sense the sorrow and pain.

This piece of art was made to honor the deaths of Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Mark Twain, a famous American author, called it "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

Upscale stores selling luxury watches and bracelets (the Swiss are known for their fancy handiwork) dot the city's clean, riverfront streets. I was more interested in a quirky gold cowbell for a souvenir, though.

No matter where you're from or who you are, the awe-inspiring landmarks of Switzerland, whether they are natural or man-made, will be something you'll never forget!

—Anjali Bhat

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat at the top of Mount Titlis in Switzerland. (Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat)

Situated in Singapore

While the athletes compete, this Kid Reporter eats!

Singapore is a big city, and I spent my second day here getting oriented. I didn't sign up in time to get press credentials for the Youth Olympic Games (the deadline was way back in May), so I filled out some paperwork today and hope that soon I'll be able to go behind the scenes to get really close to the action and interview the athletes. The person in charge of the media accreditation here was very encouraging, so wish me luck!

In the meantime, everywhere I turn there's something going on. I've got a sense of where the venues are now and a good game plan for the next few days, so don't despair, I'll bring you some sports-related coverage soon.

That doesn't mean that I don't have anything spicy to report! I visited Chinatown here in Singapore, and “spicy” doesn't even begin to describe the experience! Food stalls can be found at every street corner. You can also eat at giant food courts, called “hawker centers,” which feature foods from different cultures such as Malay, Indian, and Chinese, Peranakan. The Peranakans are descendants of early Chinese migrants in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Apart from eggrolls and samosas, I was not familiar with any of the dishes available there! I'm probably not the only one, because every little food stall has pictures of their specialties on display. Even then, many of the dishes remain a mystery. Take a look at the picture above! Pretty extreme, don't you think?

I hear that four big local specialties are: fish-head curry, sambal stingray, chilli crab, and durian milkshake. I tried the durian a long time ago and I'm not going anywhere near that one again (no offense to those of you who love it, it's just... not my taste). A durian is a fruit. One web site described its smell as "tear-inducing, oniony, fetid stench." Need I say more?

But before this trip in Singapore is over, I'm going to try one of the other specialties and give you a report. I must admit I'm not totally enthusiastic, but my parents say I've got to at least try.

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTOS: (TOP) A hawker center in Singapore's Chinatown. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Charlotte Samson tries out some new foods while deciding against others. (Photos Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

Kid Reporter covers the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

This is it. The long wait is over. After two and a half years of preparations and anticipation, the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are finally here. And if the Opening Ceremony in Singapore is any indication of what we might get to see in the next 12 days, we're in for something spectacular.

Singapore is buzzing with energy. YOG signs, banners, and flags are just about everywhere. From the moment I stepped out of the plane on Saturday to the time I arrived at Marina Bay for the Opening Ceremony that evening, I bumped into 736 volunteers. The volunteers are everywhere in their neon-purple outfits I'm sure can be easily spotted from space! I talked to all of them—well, nearly all—and they're super nice and eager to help.

Check out these numbers: 3,600 athletes from 204 countries are competing; 20,000 volunteers are helping keep things organized; 7,000 dancers performed in front of 27,000 spectators for the opening ceremony; and more than 2 billion watched worldwide on TV. (You can watch online at http://www.youtholympicgames.org/)

The stage for the opening ceremony was set on the water, which reflected the city and the fireworks all around. It gave me goosebumps to be there watching.

Singapore has a proud history—one that was told beautifully in the Opening Ceremony. The games are sure to add a fascinating new chapter to that history—a chapter rooted in the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

A prominent song at the Opening Ceremony had this chorus: "Today, our story has begun." That's how highly the citizens of Singapore hold these games.

With the opening ceremonies over, competition is now in full swing. I am working hard to cover everything I can, including my sister’s competition in wind surfing. Yes, my older sister, Margot, is on the U.S. wind surfing team!

Stay tuned to this blog for more reports from Singapore!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony marking the start of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games on Saturday August 14, 2010 in Singapore. (Photo: Wong Maye-E/AP Images)