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)

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)

Get a Taste of Mexico!

At the President's guest house for another tasty state visit.

A dancer stomped and twirled to the rhythm of the music being played in a courtyard filled with sunlight. Brightly decorated tables dotted the area. The atmosphere was festive for the second official state visit of the Obama presidency.

Called “A Taste of Mexico,” this cultural event for kids was held at Blair House, the President's official guest house just across the street from the White House. The event celebrated the upcoming visit of the President of Mexico Felipe Calderón. It was hosted by Capricia Marshall, Chief of Protocol of the United States.

The music was good, but the food was better. The highlight of the event was getting to learn about Mexican cuisine first-hand—both the preparing and the eating!

Guided by guest chef Patricia Jinich and several White House chefs, we (the kids) were separated into four groups, one group at each of four tables.

The first group was charged with making delicious corn tortillas. When everyone was finished making their tortillas, a bell rang, and each group moved on to the next table.

The second table was devoted to beans. My group learned about all the different kinds of beans, how they were cooked, what foods they were good with. Once we were finished, the bell rang again and we moved on.

At the third table, we made our own salsa with various ingredients. At the fourth table, we finished making the batter for a delicious looking sponge cake.

Once we had finished making and learning about the Mexican delicacies, we went outside to the tables in the courtyard, where some interesting beverages awaited. There was a drink called Agua de Jamaica, which was actually hibiscus flower water. Another was Agua de Limón, otherwise known as fresh lime-water. The last was named Agua de Horchata, or water with rice, vanilla, almond, and cinnamon.

We conversed and tasted the exquisite drinks until the food came. That was when all conversation stopped.

The food was wonderful. Our handmade tortillas had been united with a scrumptiously seasoned bean puree, Mexican sour cream, Farmer's cheese and avocado to form a Mexican dish called Enfrijoladas con crema queso y aguacate. This dish was improved even more as we added our personal salsas to the mix.

Last, but certainly not least, came the dessert: A sponge cake decorated with a dollop of whipped cream, Mexican chocolate shavings, and fresh strawberries. It was an absolute melt in your mouth confection dubbed Pastel de tres leches de vanilla con crema batida y fresas con rallado de chocolate Mexicano.

A mouthful both to say and to eat, yet delicious nonetheless. As they say in Mexico: ¡Buen apetito!

Be sure to check out my video interview with the Chief of Protocol and head chef of the event!

—Nick Berray

PHOTOS: (TOP) Kid Reporter Nick Berray (left) works on dessert. (BOTTOM) Handmade tortillas made by kids at "A Taste of Mexico" event before going into the kitchen to be cooked. (Photos Courtesy Nick Berray)

Why I Like Oprah

Kid Reporter celebrates her Women’s History Month hero

Is it possible to have a troubled childhood and overcome it to become one of the most powerful women in the world? Oprah Winfrey did just that. While many people use their past as an excuse for their failure in the present, Oprah Winfrey used her hardships to energize her and motivate her to succeed.

As a Kid Reporter, I have found great inspiration in Ms. Winfrey because she is a successful journalist. That’s why I am celebrating her accomplishments for Women’s’ History Month.

Today, she is considered one of the most famous woman in the world. In the beginning, however, it was not an easy journey.

Life for Ms. Winfrey was difficult when she was young. She spent her first six years with her grandmother on a farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She moved to Wisconsin with her mother where she was abused. She ran away from home and at age 13 was sent to a juvenile detention center. With no beds available there, she was sent to Nashville to live with her father. He was very strict, but instilled in her the love of reading and learning.

Ms. Winfrey managed to navigate her way to her goals and began her broadcasting career when she was only 17. She studied speech and communications at Tennessee State University. Before the Oprah Winfrey Show was launched, she was a news anchor and hosted a successful local talk show in Chicago, now her home.

Achieving her goals wasn’t enough for Oprah. She also wanted to help others achieve their own dreams. She decided to inspire other people to do their best in life and always brings experts on her show to help people learn.

Ms. Winfrey has earned numerous awards for her amazing work. Time Magazine named her one of the most influential people of the 20th century. Her Angel Network helps people in need and she opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa so that they can have great opportunities as well.

Ms. Winfrey doesn’t just complain about what is wrong—she finds a way to make improvements and inspires others to do the same.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from,” Ms. Winfrey says. “The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.”

That’s why I am celebrating Oprah Winfrey for Women’s History Month this March. Who do you look to for inspiration? Click on the blue comment below and let us know!

—Mariam El Hasan

PHOTO: Oprah Winfrey (center) celebrates the opening of her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. (Photo Credit: Jerome Delay/AP Images)

How to Build Schools in Afghanistan

One penny at a time, says Greg Mortenson.

Dr. Greg Mortenson went on a journey to climb K2, the second highest mountain peak in the world. Instead he climbed a much bigger mountain—illiteracy.

Known as Dr. Greg, this Nobel Peace Prize Nominee is also author of several books, including Three Cups of Tea and One Man's Journey to Change the World...One Child at a Time.

Recently he met with more than 600 Girls Scouts—including me—from San Jacinto Council in Houston, Texas. We gathered in the gymnasium at the AWTY International School to learn about Dr. Greg’s fight to build schools for girls in Afghanistan.

In 1993, during his trip to climb K2, Dr. Greg got lost and ended up in the village of Korphe. After breakfast one day, he saw 82 children—78 boy and 4 girls—writing with sticks on the ground. They did not have a teacher. The village couldn’t afford the $1 a day salary.

"Can you imagine a fourth grade class in America, alone, without a teacher, sitting quietly and working on their lessons?" Dr. Greg asked.

Over the next 17 years, Dr. Greg built 131 schools in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan. His program runs more than 200 schools in the area.

“I realized that education is the top global priority in the world, especially educating girls,” he said. “I also realize that anybody, no matter who you are, can make a difference."

Dr. Greg and his organizations, Pennies for Peace and Central Asia Institute, have made a difference for thousands of children. “We have found that the best support that we get is from the kids,” Dr. Greg said.

Currently some 4,000 schools are helping by just collecting pennies. Pennies for Peace is a service-learning program which started with children from Westside Elementary School in River Falls, Wisconsin. They collected 62,345 pennies for Dr. Greg’s first school.

What can a penny buy? In Pakistan and Afghanistan a penny can buy a pencil, two pennies an eraser, and 60,000 pennies is a teacher's salary for an entire year!

At the end of the talk, Dr. Greg challenged each of us to make a difference. I know I can. What about you?

—Erin Sheena

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Erin Sheena with Dr. Greg Mortenson in Houston, Texas. (Photo Courtesy Erin Sheena)

Earthquake Update

Save the Children reports on progress in Chile and Haiti.

Hard on the heels of the recent crisis in Haiti, the South American country of Chile was struck by one of the biggest earthquakes on record—an 8.8 magnitude.

I had written a story about the efforts of Save the Children to help people in Haiti. I wanted to know what the non-profit organization was doing in Chile, so I called my source, Kathy Connolly, Senior Director for Resource Development.

Ms. Connolly informed me that a rescue team arrived quickly in the nation’s capital city of Santiago.

"The first three members of our team deployed to Chile on March 2 and more are on the way,” she said. “They are working with the Chilean Government to assess the damage done by this major earthquake."

I asked Ms. Connolly how she would compare the two catastrophes.

"A major difference between the Haitian and the Chilean crises is in the ability of the respective host governments to manage the aftermath,” she explained. “Chile has long been at high risk for earthquakes, given its geographic location, and the government has a strong, capable civil defense in place to provide support. The country's infrastructure—the quality of its building construction, for example—is more advanced than Haiti's as well."

The organization also plans to help kids living in Chile. "Save the Children will provide psychological and social support, hygiene kits, and many other services such as child protection support and educational programs," she said.

Meanwhile, the government in Haiti is still struggling to recover from it 7.0 earthquake, which did much more damage to that poverty-stricken country than the 8.8 quake did in Chile.

"Haiti will be a long-term project,” Ms. Connolly said. “We'll be there for quite a while. Approximately 1.2 million people still need shelter, so that is an urgent priority."

Save The Children has a six-month plan and a proposal called "Build Back Better” to help support the longer term needs of the children of Haiti. In addition to food and shelter, Ms. Connolly says that education will be an important issue for the future. For more information, or to donate, visit savethechildren.org.

— Nick Berray

PHOTO: Food aid is distributed in Constitucion, Chile, some 300 km south of Santiago. (Photo Credit:MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images/NewsCom)

Haiti Hits Home in Queens, NY

Fifth grader shares his stories of Haiti with Kid Reporter.

When the earthquake in Haiti erupted it felt so far away. I didn’t know anyone there and knew very little about it. Then I got an assignment from Scholastic to cover people affected by the earthquake. All of a sudden, instead of strangers on the TV screen, I found myself speaking with people directly affected. It made the tragedy much more personal for me.

I interviewed one young man my age, Rickssen Oponte, who is in the fifth grade, just like me. He has family members in Haiti.

Before I interviewed him I was told his mother was among the missing. That made me a little nervous to ask him questions. Before our interview, however, Rickssen found out his mom is OK.

“I can’t talk to my mom, because I can’t get through,” he told me. “But my sister who lives in Florida spoke with her and found out she is OK.”

I asked him what it was like, before he knew she was safe.

“I was extremely worried that my mom would be hurt,” he said. “My heart was broken and my heart was in pieces that she was there.”

Rickssen lived in Haiti for nine years before moving to New York. He has good memories, he said, of going to school and playing soccer. He was quick to point out, however, that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and that people are going to need help rebuilding.

“I want people to know that the people of Haiti are in extreme pain,” he said. “It’s a disaster.”

I also spoke with Julie Le Pore, Director of Religious Education at Saint Ann’s Church in Nyack, New York, which is home to a large Haitian population. LePore stressed the need for both prayers and money.

“Haitians are not ready for clothing or food drives right now,” she said. “They really need money.”

She stressed the need to act quickly to get things as basic as clean drinking water to the people.

“Drinking polluted water means people get sick and if they don’t get cared for, infection will spread,” she said.

It is important for us to help Haiti, she pointed out, because Haitians are our neighbors.

“And just like we try to help our neighbors on our own block, we should also help our neighboring countries in the same way,” she said.

Le Pore’s parish is collecting money and sending it to Catholic Relief Services and to the Norwich Haitian Mission House in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. Saint Ann’s parish already has an established relationship with the Norwich Mission House, because so many members of the congregation are from Haiti.

I also interviewed Jackie McCann and Nancy Taylor, both of Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York, one of the most diverse counties in the entire country. They immediately started fund raising efforts when the earthquake struck in Haiti because many of their staff are from there. They are baking cookies and other goods to be sold in the lobby.

You may think that a bake sale can’t raise enough money to make a difference. McCann told me that they make $600 to $1,000 a day on their bake sales. They donate all sales to www.foodforthepoor.org, because that particular charity sends 96 percent of the profits directly to the people of Haiti. Food for the Poor is a well-known charity in the Caribbean.

“We want to make sure every penny goes to Haiti,” Taylor said. Aside from the bake sale, the hospital also has collection containers in the gift shop and cafeteria.

“Every little bit is helpful,” Taylor said.

—Joseph O’Connor

RETURN TO CRISIS IN HAITI SPECIAL REPORT

PHOTO: Fifth grader Rickssen Oponte was relieved to find out his mother, who lives in Haiti, survived the earthquake. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Sadness and Hope in Haiti

My interview with CBS News Anchor Harry Smith

When I went to the CBS News studios in New York last week to interview Harry Smith, I was really nervous. I had never done an interview on camera before.

“Okay,” I thought, “just smile and ask your questions.”

It turned out I did much more than that. I had an emotional conversation with an adult who treated me like a real reporter instead of a little kid. Together we discussed life and death, but more importantly hope, in Haiti.

Before the interview started, Mr. Smith spent about 10 minutes just talking with me. It felt like we were old friends, and from then on, I knew the interview would go well.

When some of my questions brought tears to his eyes, I didn’t feel uncomfortable about it because I was lost in his answers. He is such a good storyteller, and he painted such a powerful picture with words that came from deep in his heart, that I felt like I was in Haiti with him.

Even though there is a lot of devastation in Haiti, Mr. Smith said he saw hope amidst the sadness. People who had lost everything were making plans about how to go on with their lives. It was an uplifting lesson.

—Grace McManus

The Salvation Army Volunteers

This Kid Reporter takes a turn as a bell ringing Santa.

I see volunteer bell ringers dressed in red aprons and Santa Claus hats wherever I go during the holiday season. I recently met with two of these bell ringers and found out they are everyday people just like you and me. They are volunteers for the Salvation Army and they donate their time because they know that they are doing it for a good cause and are helping citizens of their communities.

I rang a bell myself recently with Salvation Army volunteers Roger Green and Eric Lawrence at a store near Atlanta, Georgia. I could feel the frigid winds biting into my skin, but at the same time I could feel the joy of seeing people one after another putting their money into the kettle.

Now I know what a bell ringer feels when they are on the job of ringing bells to make people aware of the Salvation Army and its promise “Doing the Most Good.”

Because the economy is currently in a recession, many more donations are needed to provide food, clothing, and cash for families in need. Although most of the work of the Salvation Army is done by adults, I found out that kids can contribute too!

A great way for us to help is to set up virtual kettles on the Salvation Army website. That way we don’t have to stand out in the freezing cold to collect money. With a virtual kettle, you can email relatives and friends to fill up your “kettle” online. The money automatically goes to the Salvation Army.

Next time when you see a bell ringer in front a store and hear the loud and clear ring of a bell, pitch a donation into the bright red kettle. Any coin will help!

And tell the Salvation Army Santa, "Thank You!" for his or her hard work out in the cold! They can use the encouragement.

“Sometimes it is embarrassing when my fingers are so numb that the bell drops on the ground,” Mr. Green told me. “I overcome the hardships by knowing that I am doing my duty.”

—Andrew Liang