I read an article on Zao Bao last Sunday, which I would like to share with all of you. It's several quotes from an outstanding athelete who is also the global ambassador of the programme that I have really, really enjoyed, the MCK programme. Here are some of the quotes:

" If I didn't swim my best, I'd think about it at school, at dinner, with my friends.  It would drive me crazy."

" I've always been fortunate in that I've been able to put myself in my own zone and relax.  It comes naturally.  I'm lucky to be that way."

" You can't put a limit on anything.  The more you dream, the farther you get."

And this is my favourite:

" You can't doubt.  If you doubt, then that's it.  The biggest thing is staying positive and imagining anything is possible.  Because it really is."

I am sure you'd have guessed who he is, he's none other than  Michael Phelps !!!

Did you try out the quiz? Here are the answers!

Q1. When was the first time females got to compete in the Olympic Games?

Females competed for the first time in the Second Olympic Games in Paris. There were 11 of them. Looking at the many wonderful moments that ladies have generated in Beijing, I can't imagine an Olympic Games without them. Well, Tao Li, Li Jia Wei, Feng Tian Wei and Wang Yue Gu are all ladies! 

Q2. When and where was the first anti-smoking Olympic Games?

It was at the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona that smoking was forbidden within the Olympic venues, for everyone including spectators, officials, athletes, etc. Personally, I can't imagine athletes who smoke....

Q3. Which are the cities which have held the Olympic Games twice?

In the history of the Olympic Games, these are the cities that have held the summer Olympic Games at least twice: Paris in France, Los Angeles in USA, London in United Kingdom. For the winter Olympic Games: Innsbruck in Austria, St. Moritz in Switzerland, Salt Lake City in USA.   

Q4. Was there ever an Olympic Amusement Park?

Yes, the 26th Olympic Games in 1996 was a special one because it was the 100th year anniversary of the Olympic Games. It was held in Atlanta, USA and there was a big Centennial Olympic Park that was filled with booths, amusement park rides, and concerts

Bonus Question: Which is the Olympic Games that lasts forever?

OK, this is a little like a trick question. I read in a book that, during the closing ceremony for the 1952 Olympic Games held in Helsinki, Finland, the phrase that declared the game closed was apparently never mentioned. So theoretically, the game was never closed ! Hee Hee.

I hope you had as much fun answering them as I had researching them. So, how do you score on the Olympic-O-Meter?

The Olympic-O-Meter

1/5 You do watch the Olympic Games, don't you?

2/5 You are a certified Olympic Games-watcher.

3/5 You must have been the referee, umpire or judge!

4/5 You must be an Olympic Athlete! Can I have your autograph?

5/5 WOW! Are you an ex-olympian turned IOC Member?

Yesterday, I watched the women's high jump finals. It was a close fight between Blanka Vlasic from Crotia, Anna Chicherova from Russia and Tia Hellebout from Belgium. What caught my attention was their toned bodies and lanky figures, and how beautifully they soared over the pole, contorting their bodies elegantly.

Amongst them, Tia Hellebout stood out as the oldest contestant ( she is 30 ) and she wears spectacles! And who is the eventual winnner? Tia cleared 2.05m on her first attempt and is the proud owner of the gold medal. 

I did the high jump with the straddle technique during PE in school. Having long legs is an advantage but being a 四眼田鸡(bespectacled person) does make me a little more cautious. Now, Tia cleared 2.05m using the 'Fosbury Flop' technique with a pair of spectacles on!

It must really have been a disadvantage for her, but still, she won! You should have seen the look of determination in her eyes before her jump. This teaches us that no matter what disadvantages you have, so long as you try your best you will succeed!  I think that one thing I learnt from not only this sport, but also all the sports, is that we must keep focused with our eyes on the goal. Moreover, never be complacent. This is something that applies to not only sports, but to our daily lives as well.

I feel that it is important that we must never give up. Giving up makes one a loser. At least, if you don't give up, but still lost, you can think "it's okay, I've tried my best". We must also learn to accept that it is okay to lose. Quote Carl Lewis, famous track and field star,"You gotta win some, you gotta lose some, and at the end of it all, go get some ice-cream." I just had my ice-cream in McDonald's! 

There are 4 mountain bikes parked outside my house. Every weekend, my dad, my younger sister, Claris and I will cycle in the morning.  There are many different routes we can take. From home, we can cycle along Singapore River, either towards East Coast Parkway passing by the Esplanade (and enjoy the view of the Singapore Flyer and the Merlion), or towards Queenstown passing by many playgrounds and schools. However, the most challenging to me is towards Dempsey Hill where there are quite a fair number of slopes.

When I watched the Olympic Cross Country Mountain Biking event today, I was totally overwhelmed by the way the competitiors got to manoeuvre through the demanding mountain trail, looking really gruelling, characterised by stairs, steep slopes and rocks, just to name a few of the obstacles. When I cycle, it is very relaxing, with the wind in my hair, beautiful scenery, cycling at a leisurely pace. However, today, I saw a different kind of sports altogether, a completely different ball game during competition. Doing a sport for interest , for passion, or to win can be totally different, requiring different levels of commitment. Well, does this change my view about cycling? Of course it does. in the future, I might change my mind, but meanwhile, I will stick to my leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery and with the wind in my hair!

By the way, did you know that there are 4 different types of cycling event in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games? First, the Urban cycling road course, which began south of downtown Beijing and ended at the Great Wall....now, that's REAL SLOPES! Secondly, there's the Laoshan mountain bike course, which was what I watched today. And then, there's the Laoshan velodrome track racing. And the Laoshan bicycle BMX motorcross race took place for the first time at the Olympic Games. That event got even the spectators adrenaline rushing.

For those of you who have been following my blogs.  Here are some interesting facts about the Olympic Games:

Did You Know...

* That the Olympic Games symbolise peace?

* That  欢欢 is actually the Olympic Flame?

* That for sports involving horses, both horse and rider will be disqualified if either is tested positive for drugs?

And here's more treats for you - an Olympic Quiz! Think you know it all?  Think again. 

Q1. When was the first time females got to compete in the Olympic Games?

Q2. When and where was the first anti-smoking Olympic Games?

Q3. Which are the cities which have held the Olympic Games twice?

Q4. Was there ever an Olympic Amusement Park?

Bonus Question: Which is the Olympic Games that lasts forever?

Want to know the answers? Look out for my next blog and you will find out!

At the BJUT, which was where the MCKs watched the badminton games, the men's badminton singles final was also underway. It's the world No1, Lin Dan from China and world No 2 , Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia. I saw Lee playing in the Aviva Open a couple of months ago in Singapore, and he was really cool and composed. Tonight, however, Lin Dan reigned, adding 1 gold to the 2 golds for China within hours.

My family loves badminton, so we switched between channels to watch both the table tennis and the badminton matches, and that was really troublesome but worthwhile. The next Olympic Games, I will be looking forward to see the Singapore badminton team in the finals. By then, I really will have to switch channels between the Table Tennis finals and the Badminton finals to catch Team Singapore in action! Of course, I wonder how Mediacorp is going to handle that! For now, let our table tennis winners relax and taste the sweetness of winning...   

This is a wonderful Olympic in Beijing in the year 2008. Team Singapore won an Olympic Medal, a beautiful Silvery one in the women's table tennis. Considering that the last one was a silver in the men's weightlifting in 1960 by the legendary Tan Howe Liang in Rome, this is an outstanding achievement. Congragulations, TeamSingapore! The entire Singapore is proud of you! May this be the  beginning of greater Olympic achievements in the years to come!

新加坡队，我们永远支持您!

We just watched another sensational swimming event. Michael Phelps is now officially the world record holder of 8 gold medals in one single Olympic Games! This is a fantastic example of how both individuals and teams can bring a sport to such great heights! 

  The eight events that brought Phelps and USA Swimming to the top:

Gold 200m Freestyle

Gold 100m Butterfly

Gold 200m Butterfly

Gold 200m Individual Medley

Gold 400m Individual Medley

Gold 4x100 Freestyle Relay

Gold 4x200 Freestyle Relay

Gold 4x100 Medley Relay

What a way to win, ending the Beijing 2008 Olympic Swimming events on such a high note! This has really been a smashing Olympic Games Swimming season, with records falling faster than leaves in Autumn, and all I can say is WOW! 

A few minutes ago, the crowd in Beijing was roaring on their feet. It was the century sprint and Usain Bolt really went for broke, shattering all records at 9.69sec! The 21 year old, 1.96m tall, is the first Jamaician 100m gold medalist in an Olympic Game!  How can I describe Bolt? Well,I think one line my mum said really hit the nail on the head: Look at him, he flies! 

This is MCK Megan reporting from....my sitting room. Alright, even though I was not actually at the "Bird's Nest" now, the race was so intense, I could feel electricity in the atmosphere, even from home.

Well, let this be the inspiration for our Team Singapore paddlers to go all out for GOLD tomorrow! This has been such a record breaking Olympic Games, nothing is impossible ! All the best, Team Singapore!  

Usain Bolt, finishing his record breaking 100m in style !

As my sister and I saw you take the fifth match on TV yesterday, we jumped so high and screamed so loud.  Our neighbours downstairs might complain but this time, it didn't really matter to us.

All of us are really really proud of you ! Thank you for the wonderful match ! GO FOR GOLD, TeamSingapore !

Do you like this sticker ? I scanned it in especially for you.

The day after we came back was, fortunately, a school holiday. That gave me a golden opportunity to catch up on my sleep and complete my school homework.  At the same time, I found myself chatting non-stop to mum, eager to tell her everything about the trip. She asked me an interesting question : what have you learnt from this trip ? I gave it some hard thought, and these are my top 3 on the list:

No. 1......Being a journalist is a lot more challenging and demanding that I initially thought. To do well, a journalist has to be multi-talented to take on the multiple roles of a photographer, interviewer, reporter, writer and much more, all at the same time! A journalist also has to be really healthy to get accustomed to the odd working hours. Now I appreciate them better and I look beyond the printed articles in the media. I can imagine the amount of effort behind those words! Even though my role was merely that of a young journalist in Beijing, read on to see what I had to do......

I had to work late into the night to write my report........

And had to wake up early in the morning to continue.  Fortunately, Auntie Linda and my fellow MCKs were always there....

And I sometimes had to do on-the-spot reporting. All in a day's work! They were really hectic but FUN! 

I AM REALLY VERY VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!!  

No. 2......All sports should be fun. That's what all the athletes I interviewed unanimously told me. They also told me its okay to lose, and a good sportsperson has to learn to accept losing as part of winning. And sports should always be fair. No drugs or steroids. 

No. 3......Where there's a will, there's a way. When I first picked up the entry form to take part in the MCK contest, I did not expect myself to win. As I went through the different rounds, I kept reminding myself to always try my very best. I am really very blessed to have my dream come true. I feel that if everyone in Singapore plays a part, do their best, and work together, the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 will be a huge success!  I really won't be suprised to see Codee take part in the artistic gymnastics event in the Youth Olympics, and Vicknes, a famous  TV personality!  My friend, Hannah, could be the first Singapore astronaut. To the entire SCGS 6P'08, we will reach our target of running 3000 rounds on the school track. Quote Les Brown,"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  Cheers!!

On the morning of our departure, I checked out of the hotel with mixed feelings of sadness and relief. Sad because I really enjoyed this trip so much and it was a dream come true for me. Beijing is so vast, there is so much more for me to see, hear and learn from. Relief because I am quite exhausted, both physically and mentally, and I can appreciate some rest back home in Singapore. As I pushed out the door, I was thinking in my heart.."Thank you, Loong Palace. It's been fun staying in a hotel filled with MCKs from all over the world." 

On the way to the airport, we went to the Beijing Zoo. The Pandas are so cute and make you want to 'fluffer and huffer' with them. I remembered reading from the news some time ago that some of them were suffering from the trauma of the Sichuan earthquake. They all seemed happy playing and munching on their bamboo then.

We reached the airport a few hours before departure so that we all could have lunch and have some time to do some last minute shopping. The Beijing airport is BIG and BRIGHT! It was only officially opened in March 2008.

We did not forget to take pictures with our chaperones, Sarah, Erwin, and our tour guide, Miss Wang! 

When the flight took off, I looked out of the window and thought to myself....What an experience!!  There were quite a few periods of turbulence during the flight, but we all touched down in Singapore Changi airport before schedule. My sister, Claris, was so excited to see me, she almost barged into the restricted area. After all the hugging, I felt a little hungry and you have to believe what I asked for,,,,,McDonald's French fries!!

Today is Singapore's National Day, so I just want to say :Happy 43rd Birthday, Singapore! I love you! You are a young nation on the rise, and I'm sure, a force to be reckoned with.

That 's all of us shouting 'Happy Birthday, Singapore!' outside the Badminton competition venue.

My first meal in Beijing was the welcome dinner at the Loong Palace Hotel. I made many new friends there, one boy and two girls.

They are from Chengdu, China. We exchanged souvenirs when we met. We were going to play bowling but it ended after we each threw one ball. The first day was rather short, and I look forward to the rest of the trip to get to know more friends!

The very moment I stepped into Terminal 3, I could sense the excitement building up in me. After all, I was going to Beijing as a McDonald's Champion Kid! Although jumpy as a jackrabbit, I was really looking forward to the trip. After taking many photographs and video recordings, we were finally ready to go. I was actually rather sad when it was time to leave as I would miss my mother and younger sister. However they told me to enjoy myself and not to worry. With that, all of us went to check in. Bursting with energy, I snapped countless photographs.

While we were waiting to board the plane, I met Jing Jun Hong, a former table tennis star, and snapped some photographs with her. I also met an Olympic official whilst lining up.

When I finally boarded the plane, I looked around for the staircase that led from the upper deck to the lower deck, but to no avail. Once I settled down, I was given a hot towel and it was very refreshing.

During the flight, I was very pleased as there were many Olympic shows to watch. I also watched Singaporean production, <Ah Long Pte Ltd>. I also watched part of CJ7, but most of the time was spent on the Olympic programmes in order to help me during my trip as well as to satisfy my curiosity about the Olympics.

I really liked my on-flight brunch of potato salad and chicken. I liked the dessert most of all-cornetto ice-cream! I had never eaten cornetto ice-cream on Singapore Airline flights before. I just love good food!

The entire flight went pretty smoothly, and the only thing that went wrong was that I spilt sprite on my left foot. That's why I went around the rest of the day missing a sock until checked in into the hotel! Beijing, here I come!

Yesterday was really an amazing day for me! It was my first time on board the Airbus A380, and my first time checking in at the new Terminal 3. I'm really glad McDonald's gave me this chance to come to Beijing and feel the Olympic spirit! The entire city of Beijing is really pulling out all the stops to make sure that this is the best Olympics ever! Read on, and I will bring to you My Beijing Olympic Experience.

On Monday, my father brought my sister and I to watch a soccer Olympic Preparation Match! It was a rare opportunity to watch the Brazilian Team play in their signature green and yellow jerseys. Throughout the match, a group of die-hard Brazil fans sang songs and hit drums behind us. My friend Clare was at the stadium too, and we often dared each other to shout 'Go Singapore!' Although Brazil won 3-0 in the end, the Singapore team did try its best. It was also really heartwarming to watch the Kallang wave make an impressive three rounds round the stadium.  

Pictures coming soon...

Although it was not one of the best matches I have watched, I feel that it did leave a more lasting impression, as I got to be there to feel the spirit of soccer. Likewise, I am sure my time in Beiing will not only leave an even more lasting impression, it will definitely be more interesting than ever! I can't wait to feel the Olympic spirit!

At the Olympic Day Run, I met two special gentlemen-Mr Cunagasabai Kunalan and Mr Gan Eng Teck. Mr Kunalan is a former record holder who represented Singapore as a runner in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, while Mr Gan is part of the water polo team who participated in the1956 Olympics. When I talked to them, I realised one thing. Though it may have been a long time since their moments of glory, but their faces still shone when they talk about participating in the Olympics. Elated to meet two athletes who did their country proud, I immediately took out my pen and notebook and asked them for their autographs. Who wouldn't?  

 Find out more about them here:

http://www.geocities.com/dunearntech/ckunalan.htm 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geraldoh/254311722/

Part 6: What's Next 

After the Olympic Day Run, the next step is mainly the preparations needed to go to Beijing. We will be there between 7^th to 10^th August.  I am really very privileged to be there in the role of a young journalist. Of course, I will be sending back reports.

Well, I hope that what I have written so far has given you an idea of 'the life of a McDonald's Champion Kid' for the last 59 days. It's been amazing and there is actually so much more I can share. However, I must take a break for the time being as I will be having my school mock exam over the next 2 weeks.  Remember, my other 'Olympic Marathon'. 

Till I write again,

MeganJ

Part 5: A little more about the interviews

At this juncture, I just want to say that I am so privileged, that I get to meet and interview so many people whom I only got to see or hear them on TV/Radio programes and newspaper. I am no professional and I think sometimes I asked rather funny questions, but all of them have been so nice, so patient and ever ready to talk to us. Here are a few highlights:

1>>Just before the Team Singapore Flag Presentation Ceremony, Auntie Claudia told us that we were going to have the chance to interview the Guest-of-Honour, Minister Teo Chee Hean.  When I saw him, I was really nervous. He looked very tall and was surrounded by some bodyguards. However, he turned out to be really nice and laughed a lot. When I asked him if he played any sports, he replied humbly that he 'has tried everything but good at nothing'. I hope he didn't mind when I told him that he was a jack of all trades but a master of none. The words tumbled out of my mouth too quickly, so I was afraid he would be angry. However, he just laughed and said, "You could say that."  Now I understand what my parents used to tell me, "The most important people are most nice and gracious, that's why they are the most important".

2>>This is one of my favourite photos, and it wouldn't exist if not for Mr Teo Ser Luck, who was also at the Flag Presentation Ceremony. During the interview, my mother couldn't get near because it was so crowded. Mr Teo saw what happened and helped to clear a way for her. Later in the evening when she thanked him, he said : "Of course you have to have a photo of your daughter doing a great job." Thanks, Mr Teo.

3>>I will always have a lot to talk about the Team Singapore athletes. They are really my source of inspiration. I interviewed Desiree, Jovin (sailing) and Theresa (swimming). I really respect them, as no matter what challenges they faced, they never gave up. I also read the profiles of many other athletes. I really appreciated it when the athletes I interviewed helped me whenever I stumbled on my words and even treated me like a real reporter. They did not mind signing autographs for me, their 'mini fan', and they always waited for me to finish writing down what they said, never once showing any signs of impatience. I really believe that each and every one of them deserves to be a winner not only in sports, but also under the category 'attitude'. Rock on, Team Singapore!

4>>At the Olympic Day Run, we met Minister Grace Fu. Even though we didn't get to interview her, I was very happy to have a lady Guest-Of-Honour. As you know, the McDonald's Champion Kids are, after all, full of 'girl power'. Furthermore, her surname and mine sound the same, even though they are actually different Chinese characters. She was very friendly and easy to talk to, so I really felt at home talking to her. One day, I want to be like her, a prominent female figure in society.

5>>James Wong was really much taller than I expected, and his two children were so adorable. After seeing mummy and daddy autograph my book, little Jordan wanted to write his name in my book too! Maybe he is practicing for when he becomes a famous sportsman like his father. He can be 'little James'! Well, the big James is cited as saying "Never do what others do, but do what you can to the best of your ability. Somehow, it will have an impact to make a difference in other people's lives." He was happy to elaborate on it when I asked him about it, and it was like an inspirational talk. I wonder if I can do that...

Actually, there were a few more athletes who were too busy to meet us. I hope to have the chance to interview them in the future, otherwise all the question marks will keep lingering in my mind. Won't you feel that way?

To be continued...

Part 4: My official assignments

Event: Well-wishes Campaign for Team Singapore/ Olympic Flag Presentation Ceremony/ Olympic Day Run

Date: Months of June and July 2008

Venue: Various locations in Singapore

After the training, we were given opportunities to practice what we have learnt at various public events. That might sound rather stern but in actual fact, they were really fun. Initially, I was quite worried that I might not be quite up to the mark as everything was still quite new to me. However, all the grown-ups (Auntie Linda, Claudia, Rae, Diana, and many more ) advised us that we should just be ourselves and enjoy the process. That was reassuring and a great confidence booster.

I will for now, focus my writing on the very first assignment. After all, that was my 'maiden assignment'. 

That morning, I woke up with a new anticipation. It would be my very first MCK public event ...MC-ing, live interviews, with strangers around.  It was the Olympic Well-wishes Campaign for Team Singapore and the launch of Sport On! Kids Club.

Duties were full packed that day. The rehearsal seemed all right, but when it came to the actual thing, sequence changed and different questions were asked. I began to appreciate the DJs, as they were so eloquent and alert! 

The guest-of-honour for the event was Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The three lucky McDonald's Champion Kids not only got to meet him face-to-face, we also got to meet his little son! While Dr Balakrishnan was pleasant and approachable, his son was really adorable. We even took turns comparing hand sizes! 

I was thrilled to meet Team Singapore. I read up on their profiles the night before but my admiration for them really rocketed after I met them personally. When I interviewed Desiree and Jovin, they said, "Anything is achievable if you set your heart to it, with determination and diligence." Yes, we have heard and read that many times before, but at that moment,  I could really feel the strength radiating from every one of them, straight from their hearts.

I was really glad that my grandparents went. It was a long journey for them to go to IMM. Moments before I was due to go on stage, my PoPo gave me some Ginseng she specially brewed. I was so glad that she gave it to me, as it did give me a little more confidence.

All in all, I think we all did ok for a first timer. I felt so proud to be sometimes sitting on the slope leading on the stage, showing off that I was the MC. And somehow I felt extra tall that day, always having to bend down to talk.

To be continued...

Part 3: The Training

Event: ST Media Club Camp / News Reporting Workshop

Date: 29^th May to 6^th June 2008

Venue: Singapore Press Holding / Singapore Media Academy

While I was still ecstatic about being chosen as a champion, McDonald's wasted no time in sending us for the necessary training. It was really thoughtful of them to have already arranged the training so that they can be done during the June school holidays. Otherwise, I think I'd still be in a celebratory mood, enjoying my Sunday McDonald's breakfast......

The ST Media Club Camp was really my first contact with media reporting, and it sure made me want to know more! It was a fully-packed 2 days with lots of presentations from the industry experts. The second day was educational as we got to tour the newsroom and the print center. We even saw the DJs at work, meeting Jeremy Ratnam and Boy Thunder from Radio 91.3! Before the day ended, we got to meet and interview Paul Twohill and get his autograph too! Some lucky participants got an autographed copy of Paul's new CD, as other avid fans lined up to get their books, shirts and even jackets signed. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for me.

Not only me, but my whole family was looking forward to the next training at the SMA. That is because we are all fans of Primetime Morning hosts, Suzanne and Steven. When I found out that Suzanne was going to be the instructor, I told myself that it was going to be cool! Suzanne taught us many new and interesting aspects of news reporting. The best skill that she taught me was effective interviewing. She gave the class examples like "a plane crashed into Caldecott hill at 1.30 pm. So, once the media receives information about it, they will send the nearest reporter there. Who will you interview first if you were the reporter? Why?" She also taught me how to phrase questions, from "yes-no" questions to those that require longer and more detailed reply. I also got the chance to write a news script and do mock-up reporting in front of the camera. Suzanne also surprised everyone by asking her colleague, CNA sports reporter Patwant Singh, into the training room. He was a Olympic Torchbearer in the Beijing Games! He brought the torch in, and everyone in the class got to hold it! It was quite heavy, but it was a wonderful experience for me!

I truly learnt many interesting things there. In fact, I was so inspired by Suzanne that I wrote an article about her which I plan to include in my next newsletter 

To be continued...

Part 2: The Beginning of an Adventure...

Date: 23^rd May 2008

Time: Morning

Venue: Singapore Management University, U Square @ Li Ka Shing Library

The day dawned bright and early, and it was a beautiful day. For the first time, I got to meet all the MCK finalists! Every one of them were beaming with happiness, pride and confidence. After all, we were the MCK finalists!

To me, all the finalists were so good, everyone deserved to be the champion. When my name was announced, I was stunned and literarily lost for words. It took me some time, not to mention the warm handshakes and comforting smiles from Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mr Kenneth Chan and Ronald McDonald, to get my feet back on the ground! Luckily, Daphne gave me another chance to deliver my thank you speech and even wittily told the audience, "This is what being a good journalist is all about, from nothing to say to a lot to say."                                   My pillar of strength: Family, Teachers and Friends                        To be continued...

Part 1: How it all started...

Date: 2^nd April 2008

Time: At about 4pm

Venue: McDonald's at United Square

It was a long and energy-draining day for me at school. My legs felt like lead and my brain was telling me to go to sleep, so I wanted to get a French Fries energy boost from McDonald's. It was there that the huge "Are you game to be a McDonald's Champion Kid at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games?" poster caught my attention. "Ma, do you want to go to the Olympics?". From the moment I took the form, I have never looked back. 

What followed was a whirlwind of activities-every kid's dream whirlwind. Writing the essay was a breeze, although I had to get through several drafts to be able to fit into 100 words.  I had so much to share about my newsletter and dreams.  The interview at MediaCorp turned out to be quite an experience, turning my initial nervousness into fun!  It was a bit of a challenge with my bike due to the up and down hills. Fortunately, one of the finalists' mum and a big brother from MediaCorp helped me with it. That was really nice of them. 

The most stressful part was the telephone voting! I guess that was probably due to the fact that the outcome was beyond my control, plus that was during my school examination period. 

To be continued...

Hi, my name is Megan and I'm a Primary 6 student in Singapore Chinese Girls' School.

At the moment, I feel like I am running two Olympic Marathons... 

- I started running the first one since Primary one: The PSLE. It is probably one of the biggest and longest kids marathon in Singapore. 

-The second one started in April and it's the one I want to tell you more about in this blogsite... 

 It has been an amazing 55 days so far. Many of my friends asked and are still asking me all the "W" questions (When, What, Why, Who, Where, etc), so I am glad that McDonald's has given me this blogsite to express myself. It will come in parts, and I will commit some time during the next few days to write them...

To be continued...