Athletes are not the only ones who compete to go to the Olympics.
Ruslan Medelbek, a correspondent in Almaty with RFE/RL’s Kazakh language service, is Kazakhstan’s only journalist to be selected to attend the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China as a participant in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Young Reporters Program for aspiring sports journalists.
Speaking to RFE/RL about the award, Medelbek said that he planned to attend the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro before reading about the opportunity to apply for the IOC training program during the Nanjing games. "Suddenly I had a good opportunity to implement my dream without waiting for 2016,” he said.
As part of his application, he submitted reports he had published for the Kazakh service, known locally as Radio Azattyq.
Medelbek said, “I believe this programme will help me to obtain new skills in my career. I will learn a lot about sport journalism, new media, and social media."
The program will run from August 16 – 26, during which time Medelbek will reside in Nanjing’s Youth Olympic Village close to the athletes and enjoy entry to all the events.
Participants will receive intensive class and field training in written, photographic, television, radio and new media sports reporting.
Thirty journalists from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe were selected for the program.
- Anna Mazel
Ruslan Medelbek, a correspondent in Almaty with RFE/RL’s Kazakh language service, is Kazakhstan’s only journalist to be selected to attend the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China as a participant in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Young Reporters Program for aspiring sports journalists.
Speaking to RFE/RL about the award, Medelbek said that he planned to attend the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro before reading about the opportunity to apply for the IOC training program during the Nanjing games. "Suddenly I had a good opportunity to implement my dream without waiting for 2016,” he said.
As part of his application, he submitted reports he had published for the Kazakh service, known locally as Radio Azattyq.
Medelbek said, “I believe this programme will help me to obtain new skills in my career. I will learn a lot about sport journalism, new media, and social media."
The program will run from August 16 – 26, during which time Medelbek will reside in Nanjing’s Youth Olympic Village close to the athletes and enjoy entry to all the events.
Participants will receive intensive class and field training in written, photographic, television, radio and new media sports reporting.
Thirty journalists from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe were selected for the program.
- Anna Mazel