For Lam UN-WA and her four schoolmates, the fourth East Asian Games, which ended yesterday, was more than just a regional sports event - it offered them a valuable opportunity to learn about journalism as well as their city.
They are members of the broadcasting club at Hou Kong Middle School, Macau. They are compiling weekly news reports for their school and were among dozens of student reporters who were authorised to cover the nine-day showpiece just like any other working journalist.
During the Games, they were busy videotaping the competition and interviewing athletes. They are hoping to produce a short video about the sports festival which will be shown to their schoolmates.
Un-wa, 16, the anchor of the broadcasting team, said the idea to apply for media accreditation came from a 14-year-old teammate who is an amateur cameraman.
'We all thought it was an excellent idea because as Macau citizens, we wanted to know more about Macau,' Un-wa said. 'It was the first time that Macau was hosting such a large-scale event and we wanted to do something to remember it.'
The Games organisers were at first sceptical about letting a group of students run around the stadium. But finally they were encouraged by the team's passion for learning.
'They [the team] told us they are looking for a chance to learn more about journalism during the East Asian Games,' said media manager, Kina Lei Chong-wun
