31 January 2024 – Thirteen Young Reporters are currently providing on-the-ground coverage of the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 – in reporting, broadcasting, photography and social media – in preparation for their future careers in sports journalism.
Clad in their bright yellow jackets, with cameras and notepads in hand, the budding reporters – all aged between 19 and 24 – have been a regular sight at venues throughout Gangwon as they gather stories and interview athletes during the YOG.
Expert training from seasoned reporters
In addition to producing written articles, pictures and video reports, the participants have been given the opportunity to develop their journalistic skills through training and mentorship from seasoned Olympic media professionals, including former ABC journalist Tracey Holmes and former Associated Press Olympic correspondent Steve Wilson.
It is hoped the mix of class- and field-based tuition, covering various aspects of sports reporting, will give the Young Reporters all the tools required to work in the modern media industry and cover major events such as the Olympic Games.
Participating in the programme has already had a big impact on Italian student Claudia Gasparino. “Being able to work with journalists, work with the IOC [International Olympic Committee] and just get a lot of experience covering this kind of event has been really great,” says the 22-year-old, who is currently studying journalism at university in Scotland. “Our mentors have given us good advice. But at the same time, they leave us free to learn our own lessons, which I think is good for experience.”
The wide-ranging tuition provided has so far covered reporting, photography, broadcasting and social media, with the participants now putting their skills into practice in the field in Gangwon.
“Every single thing our mentors teach us, every tip, every suggestion, I want to keep everything in mind, and use it,” explains Gasparino. “The experience – the job I’ve been doing here, and the adrenaline that comes with it – I think is something I’ll remember forever.”
Stepping stone to success
The Young Reporters Programme for Gangwon 2024 features an enhanced focus on aspiring journalists from current and future Olympic host nations, providing an opportunity to educate and engage with young professionals in those countries and leave a tangible legacy from each Games.
During their time in Gangwon, the Young Reporters also had the opportunity to speak to the IOC President, Thomas Bach, about various topics, such as artificial intelligence and the importance of bringing the Olympic Games to African soil.
Seven of the 13 participants in Gangwon have been selected from the host nation by the IOC, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) and the Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee. The remaining participants include two representatives from each of the next three Olympic host nations: France (Paris 2024), Italy (Milano Cortina 2026) and Senegal (Dakar 2026).
And, in much the same way that the YOG are considered an excellent stepping stone for young athletes dreaming of competing at the Olympic Games, the same thinking is behind the IOC Young Reporters Programme, which aims to equip these ambitious journalists with the skills needed to report on future Games.
For Gasparino, one of the two representatives from Italy, that could mean covering a “home” Olympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026 – something she says would be a dream come true.
“I’ve always watched the Olympics, both winter and summer,” she explains. “During Beijing 2022, I remember staying up until four in the morning just to watch figure skating. I’m just a big fan of the Olympics.
My dream is to do this again and cover the Olympic Games throughout the years. I can’t say for sure that I’ll do it, but this is the biggest opportunity of my life so far. I’m really excited for Milano Cortina 2026, and hopefully I’ll be there working as a journalist.
Claudia Gasparino – Young Reporter
For both the IOC Young Reporters and the young athletes they are reporting on in Gangwon, it’s clear that the story is only just beginning, with each group hoping their YOG experiences will lead them all the way to the Olympic stage.
Introduced at the inaugural YOG, held in Singapore in 2010, the IOC Young Reporters Programme remains an exciting feature of a sporting event that prioritises developing the talent and ambition of the next generation.