The 2014 Youth Olympic Games were a success for the Cayman Islands in more ways than one.
Young Caymanian reporter Jade Webster received the Steve Parry Award for being the Best International Olympic Committee Young Reporter at the Games in Nanjing, China, last month. Webster was selected by the IOC to represent the Americas in a three-week training program, where the IOC Young Reporters covered sports events and trained in all journalistic disciplines – magazine editorial, print, broadcast, photography and social media. Webster said it was an educational process.
“Overwhelmed was the first thing I felt when I began the program, but as I went through each day learning about the sports, about the mentors and about my teammates, it got easier,” Webster said.
Webster had three of her stories published on the official website for the Youth Olympic Games. Her stories ranged from athlete profiles to traditional sports stories and she wrote an article about Cayman equestrian Polly Serpell winning a bronze medal in an equestrian team event.
“Writing stories on athletes was just amazing, but having the chance to interview and write about a Cayman athlete at the Youth Olympic Games in the Youth Olympic Village was an exceptional experience,” Webster said.
She reported on sporting events such as rowing, trampoline gymnastics and equestrian and covered Cayman’s sailors through photography, which were also published on the IOC Young Reporter’s media websites, such as Flickr and Facebook. With the help of the young reporters team, Webster also created a five-minute video on football through the Olympic Village with five Samsung phones and Google Glass, during her time with her social media mentor.
Webster has had the opportunity to be interviewed by the Chinese press, the Algerian Press and the IOC on her experience as a young reporter at the Games. She said it was an interesting experience.
“Attending these events, and watching the emotions on these young athletes faces have inspired me. I’ve discovered a love for sports and for personal stories. These Games have shown that it isn’t all about winning; it is about those exact moments that exact race and that motivation that drives these athletes to the finish line. Being a part of that and witnessing it, makes it so much more personal.
“It is hard to describe this experience. It’s an opportunity that is rarely given and to have been selected by the IOC to represent not only the Americas but also my home, is magnificent. I couldn’t have done this without the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee recognizing my abilities and putting me forward as an Ambassador, what an honor.
“Winning the Steve Parry Award for the Best Reporter is a remarkable ending to a remarkable journey.”
The IOC will select 15 Young Reporters next year to cover the Youth Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer 2018. The IOC will also provide positive accreditation to all Young Reporters who wish to attend the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Webster said she is looking forward to more opportunities.
“This program has opened so many doors for me. I’m on an Olympic ‘high’ and I don’t want it to end.”
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