With the 10th anniversary of 麻豆传媒映画hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics upon us, we are looking back at some of the stories that were making the news in the Courier during those 17 days in February.
This story was originally published Feb. 10, 2010
Thousands of professional journalists from across the globe are descending on 麻豆传媒映画for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but Adeleine Estrada suspects she鈥檒l provide a different perspective.
The 16-year-old is one of 23 B.C. students covering the Olympic and Paralympic Games using social media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter for a project called Students LIVE.
鈥淎 student鈥檚 take will be much different than say a person who鈥檚 been writing for, say, 铿乿e years. I鈥檇 like to think we have a brighter, fresher perspective on it,鈥� said Estrada who鈥檚 in Grade 11 at Tupper secondary. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a certain bias towards being focused on a certain area. [Professional reporters] also have to meet a quota, while we student volunteers don鈥檛 have one.鈥�
The teenager is interested in both sports and journalism 鈥� she coaches 铿俹or hockey and volleyball, assists in tennis, and hopes to study journalism in university. She鈥檚 operated a blog on sports news at gamemisconducts.blogspot.com for almost a year.
Once the Olympics start, her blog will centre on the Games. Estrada wants to write about subjects that aren鈥檛 highlighted as much as the events themselves, including spectators鈥� views and preparations. A relative through marriage is dancing for the opening ceremonies, so Estrada wants to talk about her impression of the celebration.
鈥淚f I have the chance, I鈥檇 like to interview one of the international athletes, not just the Canadian ones,鈥� she added.
Estrada also intends to interview a friend opposed to the Olympics. Her own feelings have been mixed. 鈥淎t 铿乺st I was iffy about it because I know about the taxes and whatnot, but now that the Games are near, I鈥檓 more supportive of it. In general, I think [other students] are excited and supportive, but I know a few people who don鈥檛 care.鈥�
Benjamin Pan, a Prince of Wales student who鈥檚 covering the Games for Students LIVE, said his classmates鈥� moods are 鈥渙verwhelmingly positive鈥� toward the Games.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e talked to a single person yet that鈥檚 even been slightly hesitant towards the Olympics,鈥� said the 16-year-old.
The Grade 11 student is looking forward to covering the event and said he has a lot of latitude about what and how often he blogs.
Estrada is already swept up by the opportunity. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 in Canada, the whole vibe and feel of it is kind of intoxicating,鈥� she said.
The student reporters from Grade 8 to 12 are from a handful of high schools around the province, including Tupper, Prince of Wales, David Thompson and Britannia. The West 麻豆传媒映画School District and the British Columbia Educational Leadership Council are running Students LIVE.
Chris Kennedy, a project coordinator from the West 麻豆传媒映画School District, said 80 students applied for the 23 positions. Student reporters aren鈥檛 meant to be cheerleaders for the Games, but are expected to do stories other young people would be interested in.
鈥淓ach has their own 铿俛vour to their blog. A couple have focused on photojournals of the process, others are more interview-driven,鈥� Kennedy said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a built-in audience of thousands of students who are in school at the time and a number of them are interested in hearing a youth voice.鈥�
Those voices can be found at .
