Visiting India has been a Life-Changing Experience

As a student studying for a degree in journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, England, the opportunity to come to Delhi was too good to turn down for the 28 of us who arrived in India in mid-September.

So what has it been like to be a part of it? The first time I really engaged with the Games and Nehru Stadium was just a few days prior to the opening ceremony. It was truly incredible to be able to walk around behind the scenes at such a great venue, accessing all areas and see everything coming together.

The opening ceremony itself, of course, was mesmerising. I thought it was as good as, if not better, than the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

When the hard work finally began for the GNS, I was lucky to meet a lot of the stars of Delhi 2010, including Kyle Pettey, paralympic shot-put gold medallist, who set a world record in Delhi, and 400-metre women's silver medallist Folshade Abugan. Most incredibly, I was the first member of the written press to talk to Mark Lewis-Francis, men's 100-metre silver medallist, which I rate as my best moment in journalism so far.

With this being my first real chance at what I hope proves to become my career, I have been most impressed by how happy athletes have been to talk to me as a volunteer, before even the professional journalists. But more impressive still is the physical shape that these athletes are in. It was really just great to be alongside them and to talk to so many different people from different nationalities and cultures.

Visiting India has been a life-changing experience for me. Delhi is a beautiful, colourful and vibrant city and it has put on a great show for the world. Being here has allowed me to work in some great sporting venues but also to experience a lifestyle that is so different to the one I have back home. The temperature, the people, the food and especially the hospitality, are all memories that I'll hold close to my heart until I'm able to come back and visit this wonderful part of the world again.

I feel that as a result of the skills I've developed here I can now go on in my degree and eventually seize my chance at a career in journalism.

Delhi 2010 has made me certain that journalism is the career I want to pursue, and the experience of being in India has taught me a thing or two about life as well.

 

Author: Kris Holland (HT Horizons)

Date: 19th October, 2010

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