Commonwealth Games blog: let the sport begin
DINNER at the British High Commissioner's House in Delhi, the opening ceremony and the games finally get under way.
Trainee journalist Jessica Bridge, of Naseby, is in New Dehli covering the Commonwealth Games as part of work experience for Sheffield Hallam, where she is studying.
In her latest blog for the Harborough Mail, Jessica describes an eventful few days...
First day of work, Monday, October 4
Today was my first day working at the Hockey, and it couldn't have gone any better.
The day got under way with New Zealand vs Wales women, a comfortable 5 - 1 win for the Black Sticks.
The second match of the day saw South Africa ease past Trinidad and Tobago 12 - 0.
As a flash quote reporter you have ten minutes from speaking to the athlete at the end of the match, to typing up the quote to then get it out onto Games News Service (GNS) system in order for the world's media to use.
No pressure then.
With five minutes left of the game I headed down to the 'mix zone' where I take my place in the media pecking order. Not that fellow journalists adhere to this order...
I had an idea of the questions I was going to ask and to whom, going over and over the questions in my head the five minutes seemed like five hours!
But before you know it the whistle has gone and it's my time (to try) and shine.
After a shaky start I picked up my speed (no dictaphones allowed...) and found the interview process a breeze.
All of the athletes I spoke to were more than happy to chat, which makes my life so much easier.
Once I had my quotes it was a mad rush getting back into the stadium.
There's no time to argue with the security about which set of stairs to use - I'm on a time limit to get my quotes typed up accurately and efficiently.
Once the quotes have been checked by my supervisors that's it - they're gone forever - and it's now up to the worlds media to decide if they use them or not.
I thought it was job done at this stage, but oh no, there's and unscheduled press conference to attend with quotes to be collected and typed all within the same ten minute period.
Although I may have run round like a headless chicken at stages I managed to get all my quotes on to the GNS system within my time slot.
Overall 11 of my quotes were used, with some being published in match reports on the internet.
I think I've had a great start to my two-week-long career as a flash quote reporter. So far, so good.
Opening ceremony, Sunday, October 3
The Opening Ceremony was wonderful, simply wonderful. Although I wasn't at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium I watched the ceremony unfold in a packed bar full of proud Delhiites.
The ceremony has been well received in the Indian press with headlines such as ' Finally, Delhi Dazzles' and 'A Spectacular Start'.
Last night it finally hit me just how big this event is. Watching the ceremony left me speechless at times. I could hardly believe it was finally here, after weeks of speculation it had gone ahead and proved and awful lot of doubters wrong - including me. Whilst watching the ceremony you couldn't help but feel overjoyed for India.
It also made me realise how lucky I am to be here, playing albeit a minor part, in the 19th Commonwealth Games. The fact that I'm here before I have even graduated from University still astounds me.
In the build up to the games my emotions towards them have switched from both ends of the spectrum, however now it's here I genuinely believe it will be a roaring success. My patriotism for the GB teams competing is at an all time high.
Hopefully all the negativity and bad press surrounding the Games will not tarnish it's future reputation. Glasgow 2014 has to build on the mistakes and successes from Delhi 2010.
Commissioner's House, Saturday, October 2
Things to do before I'm thirty: Attend a party at the British High Commissioner's House in Delhi - tick.
Last night myself and the Hallam contingency were invited to a drinks reception by the British High Commissioner and his wife Lady Stagg.
It was an absolute honor to be invited to such an event as we're just a bunch of students from Sheffield.
In attendance at the reception were athletes, coaches, Government officials and representatives from the media.
Whilst taking a mild advantage of the open bar I managed to mingle with some athletes.
Upon speaking to some shooters and archers, from Guernsey and Wales respectively, they informed me about how pleased they were with the Games village.
All of the athletes commented on the village being a first class facility, with some even quoting the village is better than Melbourne 2006.
It's just a shame that the positivity from the athletes is not represented in the media.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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