Video Skype Interview: Erin Kennedy USOC Youth Ambassador

Port Townsend Library - 10-year-old Brennan LaBrie, TIME For Kids, chats with Erin Kennedy, 2010 Youth Olympic Games U.S. Olympic Committee's Young Ambassador.

Kennedy, who serves as the Youth Development Manager for USA Rugby, was selected as the U.S. Young Ambassador in January. Her role at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be to encourage Team USA athletes to participate in the cultural and educational activities that will be part of the Games, along with supporting the U.S. Chef de Mission. As a new initiative developed by the IOC, the Young Ambassador will also participate in the youth sport forums and report on the activities for the IOC and USOC. - USOC Press Release March 2010

Letter: Readers benefit from Brennan's Olympic reports

Plaudits to the Leader for its sponsorship of the coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games by Brennan LaBrie. As a 10-year-old journalist, Brennan was one of about 10,000 reporters covering the Vancouver Olympics and was accompanied by Jack Olmsted, a photographer (videographer) (and Colleen LaBrie, photographer, writer, editor, mother).

Brennan's relation of his experiences of being in Vancouver, with so much excitement and fanfare, was beautifully reported with a child-like, delightful enthusiasm. His observations gave a unique aspect to readers of what it was like to be a member of the press. He enjoyed the privileges, such as getting up close to the Olympic sculpture Fire and Ice, which the public did not share. He attended press conferences, circulated among TV news personnel from all over the world and interviewed celebrities. His reporting gave readers an insight to that world most of us know little about.

The articles, together with the photographs, were a journalistic contribution to the newsworthiness of the Leader.

To have recognized the abilities of young Brennan and to have encouraged him to report on this international event was commendable. This was an inspiring story about a publisher, a young person excelling in a grown-up world, and we, the readers, benefited as well.

L. ELIZABETH MEYER
Port Ludlow

YouTube 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Channel

You can now watch my 2010 Winter Olympic videos on the new YouTube Playlist.

NOTE: It will take over an hour and a half to see them all.

Olympic Lessons

Now that the Olympics are over, I'm left with a lot of good memories, but I also learned a thing or two from the trip, and here are just a few of them.

Shaun White, Team U.S.A. Olympic Gold medalist snowboarder, told me that you need to love what you do to get though the hard parts.

When the Today Show followed me around on my interviews, I learned that they mixed the fun with work. They were working hard on a story that was fun. (And the cameraman told me that you always need to be nice to your cameraman, for they have the right to make you look good or bad.)

I met a lot of reporters in the media room, where I would stay up late at night typing up my stories, and they taught me many things, including that part of a reporter's life at a big event like the Olympics includes junk food and almost no sleep. (I wasn't crazy about the no-sleep part, but the junk food part wasn't that bad.)

Interview with Devon Soltendieck MusicMatter DJ and Whistler Live Host

On my one and only day at Whistler, I walked into the Whistler Live production tent and talked with their host Devon Soltendieck.

Fire and Ice Report

After running around all day (February 19) with two NBC Today Show video crews, we produced this short report in the front of the Fire and Ice Torch.

Dueling Interviews

I met Kimiya Shokoohi, International Olympic Committee Youth Reporter, while in Vancouver covering the Winter Games. We spoke about her background as a journalist as well as the upcoming Youth Olympics being held in Singapore this coming August. This is the first year for this new Olympics, which will feature athletes ages 14 to 18. And this Olympics also includes workshops for the young athletes such as social responsibility, well-being and teamwork.


Kimiya reserved our roles, picked up the mic and interviewed me.

The World According to Brennan: Moments from the Vancouver Winter Games

Spending a week in Vancouver, B.C., is fun in itself, and even more so during the Olympics. And being there as a reporter is better yet!
As a spectator, I got to see so many wild and interesting things.

The town was splashed with the Canadian colors red and white – groups of guys even wore flags as capes. Sides of buildings were used as giant TV screens to show games and broadcasts. Cheers echoed through the streets when gold was won by a Canadian.

People wore wild hats and painted faces, and high-fived strangers. Streets were closed off and filled with art and performers. The sky train rolled past on tracks above us. Jugglers and music – and even fireworks – filled the center of town at night. (Read More)

Whistler Native Becomes Ski Cross’s First Gold Medalist

Ashleigh McIvor took home the gold medal in the women’s ski-cross competition on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver yesterday, becoming the sport’s first female gold medalist.

McIvor stopped by the British Columbia Media Center in Vancouver B.C. today for a press conference proudly wearing her gold medal.

”It’s been amazing,” McIvor said. “I’ve barely had time to sit back and go, ‘Wow! I just won the Olympics!’ ”

She adds that she’s not usually superstitious but a friend gave her a small Buddha she kept in her pocket while things were going well for her – and she was afraid to take it out just in case it was acting as her good luck charm.

Her advice to other members of Team Canada as they approach their own big moments in the quest for gold is good advice for all: “Have fun! This is the Olympic Games! It’s all about having fun!”

McIvor said she knew she was going to be “100% ready” because of the tremendous support of the Canadian government in their “Own the Podium” program, which gave financial and other support to its athletes this year.

“And even standing at the top of the course I had this crazy feeling that it was all coming together perfectly,” she grinned.

The weather conditions of snow and fog that she faced at the event didn’t faze her, she said. She is from Whistler and had been skiing with friends in similar conditions.

This is the first year that the ski cross event is part of the Olympic Games. McIvor feels it is a perfect fit.

“It’s an amazing spectator sport. Four of us racing head-to-head, downhill, big jumps, huge turns, lots of terrain – it doesn’t get much more exciting than that.”

An Interview with Olympic Bronze Medaist Speedskater JR Celski

I sat down with Olympic bronze medalist JR Celski in a little coffee shop on a rainy day in Vancouver, BC.

This video is also available on the KING5 Olympic Zone

Canadian Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Press Conference

After asking Canadian Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir a couple of questions at their February 23, 2010 BCMC Press Conference, I then interviewed Scott's dad, Joe.

The video is also on the KING5 Olympic Zone

GOOD FRIENDS WIN GOLD AT HOME
By Brennan LaBrie

Earlier this month I wrote a blog for the News-Tribune and mentioned that I did not know what to expect while covering the Olympics, but that the unexpected was half of the fun. Well, yesterday morning something unexpected popped up – and it certainly was fun.

Scott Boir and Tessa Virtue, the Canadian ice–dance couple who won gold Monday night, did a press conference at the British Columbia Media Center(BCMC) just hours after taking home the gold. The couple are very popular in Canada and people love the stories about how close they are and how they have skated together for most of their lives, having met when they were just seven and nine.

Both were very excited and proud, along with thousands of Canadians, but also credit American ice–dance couple Meryl Davis and Charlie White for helping in their win.

“We wouldn’t be sitting here now with gold medals without Meryl and Charlie. They’re an incredible team, they work so hard, not to mention that they’re just fabulous people,“ Virtue said. “We’re lucky to call them friends, and I think that we will be friends for a lifetime."

I grabbed the chance to ask a few questions of Virtue and Boir, and here they are:

There were some great performances last night – do you honestly enjoy close competition?

“Absolutely. We always want everybody at their best,” Virtue replied.” I think that’s just how you want a event. Entertaining for the crowd, exciting for everyone watching. And it’s great to come out on top. So we want everyone at their best. We want everyone to deliver a great performance, it’s just the sweeter for us!”

And how do you sleep when the next day is going to be the biggest day of your life?

“It is tough to sleep,” Boir replied, “and time ticks by so slowly. Yesterday was probably one of the longest days of my life. Actually, we’re still kinda living it! But you have to rely on your training. We really just trust our training when we get up there and believe in ourselves. We did our work before we went up there and we were going to be satisfied with ourselves no matter what happened, and that’s the best thing in the world.”

Fun (and Games!), Too!

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 19, 2010

TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie reports from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

I arrived in Vancouver, Canada, on Wednesday, February 17, and found lots of activity on the streets. Everywhere I looked there were signs of national pride. The Olympic rings and the Canadian flag were splashed across everything from T-shirts to skyscrapers. Many messages on billboards showed a sense of humor. One billboard for an insurance company read: Speed skaters can't avoid tail-gaiting, but YOU can!

I'm enjoying myself in Vancouver. The city is surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains, and bridges over waterways. Its downtown district is fun to walk and has a great variety of cool shops and underground malls. Every few blocks there are musicians or art displays. Banners fill the city, and light shows fill the sky. (Read More)

A Birthday to Remember

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 19, 2010

Canadian speed skater Marianne St-Gelais snags a silver medal on her birthday

Marianne St-Gelais skated into second place on her 20th birthday. The Canadian won the silver medal in the women's 500-meter short-track speed skating on February 17, at the Winter Games in Vancouver.


COURTESY LABRIE FAMILY

TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie met with Canadian speed skater Marian St-Gelais.

Her boyfriend and fellow short-track speed skater, Charles Hamelin of Team Canada, hugged her at the finish line. St-Gelais says she will be at the finish line to cheer Hamelin on when he races later this week.

St-Gelais, who grew up in the French-speaking province of Quebec, also speaks English. The friendly and energetic athlete beamed as she spoke to the press at the British Columbia International Media Center in Vancouver on Thursday morning. Many members of the Canadian press appeared proud to congratulate one of their own.

So what is it like to win on home turf?

"It's a really good thing," Saint-Gelais told TFK. "You're in front of your crowd, your Canadian crowd. It's amazing! It gives you wings. But it is really, really loud. It is great positive energy!"

Catching up with Shaun White

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 22, 2010

TIME For Kids talks to Shaun White, snowboarder and Olympic gold-medal winner

TFK:
What goes through your mind before a competition?

WHITE:
I usually think about the trick that gives me trouble. I try to get into the zone, into a good state where I feel confident. I really feel that succeeding in the sport mostly depends on your mindset. If you tell yourself that you're going to do all of your tricks perfectly, your chances of winning are much better.

TFK:
Do you have any rituals that you do for good luck before you compete?

WHITE:
One year I bought an awesome T-shirt at an Ozzy Osborne concert. It was my favorite. I wore it under my jacket and started winning competition after competition. I had to have that shirt on for every competition that whole year, and it turned out to be the best season of my career. This year, I ate steak before each competition.

TFK:
What do you love best about your sport?

WHITE:
I think my favorite part is that I'm not told what to practice—it's all up to me. I'm really only as good as I want to be. I have the opportunity to be the best snowboarder in the world or just an alright one. I love that about the sport. You're able to dig deep and see what you can do.

(Read More)

A Chat with Rachael Flatt

Our kid reporter caught up with the champion figure skater at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada
By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 24, 2010

TFK:
What has been the most exciting moment for you so far?

FLATT:
I would have to say it was the opening ceremonies. Everyone was ecstatic and chanting "U.S.A.!" The sense of [friendship ] was incredible. I had a great time and I knew that everyone else was just as excited as I was.

TFK:
How do you deal with the stress of the Games?

FLATT:
I'm having a great time. I'm not worrying about all the stress and pressure or anything. I'm just trying to enjoy myself and skate a great performance.

TFK:
Do you have any rituals that you do before competing?

FLATT:
Not really. I don't really have any superstitions. Before a competition, I just try to prepare myself both physically and mentally.

(Read More)

HANNAH TETER: A Passion for Her Sport -- and Her World

This video is also available on the KING5 Olympic Zone

By Brennan LaBrie

After winning the silver medal on February 18, snowboarder Hannah Teter (23) was presented with a check from Samsung for $30,000 for her charity, Hannah's Gold, which is connected with the international organization World Vision.

I got the chance to meet her on a sunny day in Yaletown, Vancouver, BC, where she told me more about the difference she wanted to make.

"I'm working with World Vision to sponsor a town in Kenya. Seventy thousand people! We are working to equip the whole village with clean water. It's kind of a big mission, but it's fun to do," said Teter, who won Olympic gold in 2006.

An undertaking like this is not a new idea for Teter, who has been involved in charity work since she was a child.

"I sponsored a child in a third-world country when I was younger," she said. "They would write letters and send pictures to show the difference we were making in their lives. So I knew from a young age that the influence we can have on third-world countries is huge."

Why did she choose World Vision out of all the great charities available?
"I approached World Vision because they sponsor whole villages, and I wanted to do something big. At the time,they were one of the biggest organizations making huge differences. They've been really easy to work with and have been making changes quickly."

Teter is involved in other charities as well.

"I really like helping out in all the ways I can, getting the information out there for people who might not know about things like Save the Seals here in Canada. I don't think many people know about that," she says of the extremely cruel conditions for baby seals. "And I think I'm in a good position to set a bar for knowledge and try to get it out there."

Teter says she's excited about what's going on in her life right now. From starting out in sports by trying to keep up with four older brothers, to finding her passion on the slopes, to using her visibility to help good causes, she is glad for the chance to be a role model.

SNAPSHOTS: Moments from a Kid Reporter's Trip to the Winter Games

by Brennan LaBrie

Spending a week in Vancouver, B.C, is fun in itself, and even more so during the Olympics. And being there as a reporter is better yet!

As a spectator, I got to see so many wild and interesting things. The town was splashed with the Canadian colors red and white -- groups of guys even wore flags as capes. Sides of buildings were used as giant TV screens to show games and broadcasts. Cheers echoed through the streets when gold was won by a Canadian.

People wore wild hats and painted faces, and high-fived strangers. Streets were closed off and filled with art and performers. The sky train rolled past on tracks above us.

Jugglers and music -- and even fireworks --filled the center of town. Seaplanes landed on the water. People traded collector pins. Sausages roasted on roadside carts.

From a bridge that spanned a waterway I could see two giant ball-shaped buildings reflected in the water, and hundreds of small stone inukshuks lined the shore.

As a reporter, I got to see things in a very different way. I got to see inside massive media centers, go through security checks, walk straight into venues without waiting in line, ask questions of famous athletes at press conferences and spend time with them afterwards, and meet crews from the big news stations, which was just as fun.

My home base while there was the British Columbia Media Center in Robson Square. Rows of steps lead down to a public square where events and activities surrounded an ice rink where skating was free. Overhead were glass domes, roads and a zipline suspended four stories above the square. People waited in line 5 to 9 hours to shoot through the sky for a 12-second ride they will remember forever.

As part of the media, I got up close to the Olympic flame sculpture, Fire and Ice, which was kept at a distance from the public. My interviews lead to being interviewed myself, and I got to be on TV in places as far away as Russia, Australia and Mongolia. I got to see professional newsrooms and hold giant TV cameras. I worked alongside journalists from all over the world as we typed out our stories at night.

I enjoyed special moments that are like snapshots in my mind: meeting JR Celski (short-track speed-skater) in a coffee house on a rainy day, and talking with snowboarder Hannah Teter on a very sunny balcony and holding the silver medal she had just won. Dashing to a press conference with my credential tags flying. Boarding a luxury train at sunset after a great day in Whistler.

And some of the best moments were with my mom, Colleen, who made me laugh so much at the end of a long and busy day. That -- and of course watching her cling to the zipline harness in terror as she shot through the sky holding my video camera like I'd talked her into!

NBC TODAY Show: Pint-sized reporter covers Olympics

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the
economy

NBC TODAY Show: Kid Reporter Gets Snowboarding Scoop

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A young reporter lands the interview of a lifetime with snowboard gold medalist Shaun White.

Singing Oh Canada On Rocky Mountaineer Train Ride

I sing Canada's national anthem, "Oh Canada" on the Rocky Mountaineer Train ride from Whistler to Vancouver, BC.