Colin lines up to interview Olympic stars at Games

06 July 2012

Colin lines up to interview Olympic stars at Games

Colin Stone

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) journalism student Colin Stone is heading to London to join the press operations team at the Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old will be trackside in the Olympic Stadium, where he will interview star athletes for articles and reaction pieces which will be sent around the world to an audience of millions.
As an Olympics Games Maker volunteer with the Olympic News Service, Colin will be given priority over the world’s media and he will have unrivalled access to the medal-winning track and field stars, as well as an access-all-areas pass for in and around the stadium.
Colin, from John O’ Groats, said: “Basically, I will be first in the queue to speak to the gold medal winners. When they finish their event, there will be a barrage of cameras and media, but I’m the one the athletes have to speak to because my job involves getting the results and story to the media nationally and globally as fast and as accurately as I can.
“It’s a huge responsibility but GCU has prepared me well for the challenge. The journalism course has been fantastic and I feel confident I will do the job well, thanks to what I have learned already. 
“I can’t wait for the Games to start. It is such an exciting opportunity to be involved in the greatest sporting show on earth, and I know it is an experience I will never forget. I had my last training session at the weekend and I looked around the press areas where I’ll be working as well as the mixed zone where all the athletes arrive after their competitions and the conference room. I’ll have access to all three areas. And I got to watch the rehearsals for the opening ceremony, which is going to be incredible.”
While Colin will be coming face to face with the fastest athletes on the planet, they in turn will be meeting the Usain Bolt of shorthand.
In 2011, Colin won the National Council for the Training of Journalists award for best shorthand performance. At that stage, he had achieved a speed of 110 words a minute – but as he headed down to the Olympics, Colin revealed that has now hit 120wpm.
“I really enjoyed learning shorthand and it’s such a handy skill to have. I think shorthand is essential for any journalist and I am sure it helped me gain my place on with the Olympic media team,” said Colin.
Colin, a Radio Caley presenter, has attended training sessions in Wembley Stadium and been fitted out with his official uniform , and his Olympic adventure has already led to him meeting famous faces including Jonathan Edwards, Huw Edwards, Lord Coe and comedian Eddie Izzard.
Olympics organisers have recruited 70,000 Games Maker volunteers. As well as media roles, volunteers will help out in logistics, customer service and catering as Britain comes under the spotlight across the globe.

Journalism student Colin Stone is heading to London to join the press operations team at the Olympic Games where his duties will include interviewing the winner of the men’s 100m final just minutes after the race finishes.

The 20-year-old will be trackside in the Olympic Stadium so he can talk to star athletes for articles and reaction pieces that he will then send around the world to an audience of millions.

As an Olympics Games Maker volunteer with the Olympic News Service, Colin will be given priority over the world’s media and he will have unrivalled access to the medal-winning track and field stars, as well as an access-all-areas pass for in and around the stadium.

Colin, from John O’ Groats, said: “I will be first in the queue to speak to the gold medal winners.

After they finish their event, there will be a barrage of cameras and media, but I’m the one the athletes have to speak to first because my job involves getting the results and story to the media nationally and globally as fast and as accurately as I can.

“It’s a huge responsibility but GCU has prepared me well for the challenge. The journalism course has been fantastic and I feel confident I will do the job well, thanks to what I have learned already.

“I've been put down for a shift on the evening of the 100m final so I will interview the winner then I'll carry out more interviews in the mixed zone, which is where all the athletes gather after their competition. Knowing I will be talking to the 100metre gold medal winner just minutes after he finishes is beyond incredible.

“It is such an exciting opportunity to be involved in the greatest sporting show on earth, and I know it is an experience I will never forget.”

While Colin will be coming face to face with the fastest athletes on the planet, they in turn will be meeting the Usain Bolt of shorthand.

In 2011, Colin won the National Council for the Training of Journalists award for best shorthand performance. At that stage, he had achieved a speed of 110 words a minute – but as he headed down to the Olympics, Colin revealed that has now hit 120wpm.

“I really enjoyed learning shorthand and it's such a handy skill to have. I think shorthand is essential for any journalist and I am sure it helped me gain my place on with the Olympic media team,” said Colin.

Colin, a Radio Caley presenter, has attended training sessions in Wembley Stadium and been fitted out with his official uniform, and his Olympic adventure has already led to him meeting famous faces including Jonathan Edwards, Huw Edwards, Lord Coe and Eddie Izzard.

Olympics organisers have recruited 70,000 Games Maker volunteers. As well as media roles, volunteers will help out in logistics, customer service and catering as Britain comes under the spotlight across the globe.

 

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