Covering the Youth Olympics

What I learned in Singapore at the Youth Olympic Games

This summer I was in Singapore to cover the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) for Scholastic. It was the first-ever YOG organized by the International Olympic Committee. How cool is that?

Even after going back to school and getting into the homework routine, I can still close my eyes and be in Singapore. I can still see the opening ceremony with Y-O-G in big, bold letters in the foreground and hear the official soundtrack of the Games: "Raise your hand for our generation, fly the flags of every nation, reaching out for that moment in our lives..."

I know this sounds a little corny, but that moment in my life truly took my breath away. I loved the opening ceremony. I loved seeing kids from every nation compete at the highest level, learn about each other's cultures, and make friends for life.

I loved traveling all the way to the other side of the planet, walking around the city, and feeling its energy. I loved holding on to the pink handlebars in the bus. I remember like it is today my many trips in the Singapore subway. I remember that 'berhati-hati ruang di platform' means 'mind the platform gap' in Malay. I don't know when I'll have a chance to use that again, but it's imprinted in my brain!

Most of all, I loved being in the middle of the action at such an important event. It turns out I may have been the youngest reporter ever to have been officially accredited for the Olympic Games! A few journalists wrote about me because of that, which was a real surprise. But I'm not going to kid you: I'm not a pro! I was goofing up all the time: one time.

Once, I mistook a tourist for an athlete. I showed up at a venue at the wrong time. I started one interview with a long question, only to realize that the athlete understood not a single word of English. I almost got blamed for making another athlete miss his anti-doping testing!

But along the way, I learned a thing or two:

1) Introduce yourself and say who you're writing for: that's the professional thing to do when you're starting an interview, and it'll make you feel special. If you don't, the person you're interviewing is going to spend the first 10 seconds reading what's written on the badge around your neck. That's awkward. And he will forget your first question.

2) Speaking of first questions: prepare a first question, and be ready to scrape it. There's nothing more frustrating for someone who just lost a game than to hear: "So, how much fun was it out there?"

3) If you're interviewing famous people, don't ask them to spell their names. You can look it up later. It wastes time, wears out that person's patience, and you're going to have to double check it anyway to make sure you didn't write it down wrong!

4) If there's a line of reporters waiting to interview someone, stay close to the athlete as he or she is walking from one reporter to another, and listen to the questions and answers. If you then stand at the end of that line, you'll have plenty of ideas to follow up on things others have asked, or go in a totally new direction with your own interview. I got this tip from Jane at the US Olympic Committee. Thanks, Jane!

5) And remain objective: you're there to report, not to cheer too wildly for your home team (something I had a hard time with sometimes).For example, At the opening ceremony, the organizers gave each spectator a goodie bag with all sorts of useful things, like a bottle of water, a muffin, a portable ventilator, a poncho, a dove that lights up, etc. The bag also included a set of balloon clappers. I banged them so hard that they exploded in my hands. I smashed my parents' clappers too. And that was all before the ceremony actually got underway!

You could say that I was cheering too wildly, but then again, I was experiencing the moment!

—Charlotte Samson

NOTE: The Youth Olympic Games took place in Singapore from Aug 13-26, 2010. Check out Charlotte's daily posts from Singapore on the Scholastic Kids Press Corps Blog. For more about the Youth Olympic Games, check out the YOG official website.

PHOTO: The big YOG letters at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, August 2010. (Photo Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

Two Days at Redsfest

A baseball fan’s dream come true!

I am a baseball fan. Not just any old baseball fan either. I collect memorabilia and with that, players’ autographs—the ultimate fan’s ultimate achievement!

Recently my family and I visited the Cincinnati Reds’ annual Redsfest, an offseason event that allows fans to interact with Reds players past and present. Redsfest features autograph and photo sessions with players, memorabilia, and games for kids and adults alike.

Redfest is an autograph collector’s dream, but it’s not easy. You have to have a strategy and work your plan.

My dad picked me up early from school the first day, and we headed to the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. After searching endless parking lots to find a spot, we entered the convention center a half hour before the official start of Redsfest, only to find that hundreds of collectors had beat us there!

I had a list of autographs I wanted, with the “must-haves” at the top. My dad and I headed to one of the many TV monitors sprinkled throughout the center to make our plan.

At Redsfest, the monitors show which players and personnel will be at each of the autograph and photo sessions an hour beforehand. Collectors flock to the TVs each hour to plot where they are going next.

As soon as the appearances are revealed, the mad rush begins! Only 250 people are guaranteed an autograph or photo in each line. The rush is to get a prime spot for the player you want most.

A few hours and lots of waiting in line later, my dad and I had autographs from Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes and pitchers Aroldis Chapman (whose pitches top out at 105 mph!) and Mike Leake—three of the players on my list. Check!

The next day, my mom and brother joined us. We divided and conquered and got even more autographs, including one from Joey Votto, this year’s National League MVP. My brother and I pushed our way through a mob of thousands for that one!

We checked out the memorabilia stands, too, and the many booths devoted to Reds sponsors and affiliates. We had tons of fun. Redsfest really is a baseball fan’s dream come true!

—Meggie Zahneis

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Meggie Zahneis  in front of a clubhouse locker at the Cincinnati Reds’ annual Redsfest. (Photo Courtesy Meggie Zahneis)

Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010

Behind the scenes at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

At a time when most people are still warm and asleep in their beds, my dad and I were headed to 34th Street and Herald Square in Manhattan for the 84th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.It was almost pitch black when we left, but the sky began to lighten up as we traveled in our cab on Fifth Avenue.

We got out on 36th Street and walked over to Broadway with a crowd of other early risers, all anxious to get the holiday season under way. With a flash of my press pass to a police officer, we were on 34th Street in no time. As soon as we were ready, my dad took out his camera and I started my video report just as the sun was rising.

The scene on 34th Street was at first more busy than noisy, but as soon as NBC Today Show anchors Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieria arrived, it got really noisy with rehearsals and even more hectic than before.

People began to arrive for the parade and the grandstands soon were packed with spectators. We nabbed our own seats with about an hour to go until the parade began.

As we were waiting, I looked over to another part of the grandstands where I sat last year to do my video report. With almost five minutes to go, people started handing out rainbow colored confetti to throw. I couldn’t wait for the parade to start!

The cheerleaders who kick off the parade got into position, a nervous but excited look on their faces. As the parade began and I started my video report, a cloud of rainbow-colored confetti whirled in the air, landing in my hair. I did my best with all the craziness around me and managed to do it all in only two takes.

As the parade moved along, I especially checked out the clowns. I knew the best clowns would be the Pool Hall Clowns—one of which was my mom!

The parade was packed with giant balloons, clowns, marching bands and more, but the best is always saved for last. Santa Claus arrived in his sleigh at the Macy’s store in Herald Square amidst a whirl of white confetti. Happy Holidays!

—Alexis Wiseman

VIDEO: Kid Reporter Alex Wiseman's Thanksgiving Day parade report from 34th and Herald Square in New York City. (Video Courtesy Alexis Wiseman)