By Brooke Everett

brooke@newsroom.byu.edu

The Winter Olympics Games broadcast training programs give Utah college communications students a unique opportunity.

The program places college students in paid professional positions at the Utah Winter Games. Students will be able to work in a variety of positions, from broadcast assistant to liaison officer.

"It will give students skills that they won't learn anywhere else in the world. Participants will actually have an impact," said Jim Owens, manager of training for International Sports Broadcasting.

International Sports Broadcasting is the television production and broadcast company contracted by the Olympics to film the Winter Games.

To apply, Owens said students must fill out an application, which are available online.

Owens said they prefer to hire students even though it would cost less to hire professionals.

"The President has made a commitment to education. Everyone talks about Olympic legacy. Broadcasters don't really leave behind a physical legacy like buildings. But we can leave our legacy by this educational program," Owens said.

Heidi Spencer participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics while she was a student at Ashbury College in Kentucky.

"The experience was so valuable, it is difficult to put into words. It was neat to put our classroom experience into practice. We worked with professionals from NBC, ABC, and BBC," Spencer said.

Spencer said she worked 14-16 hours a day.

"It was hard but fun work. We got to see the fruits of our labor. They would feed our broadcast to dozens of countries," Spencer said.

Spencer said she advises students participating in the program "to savor the moment."

"To be able to work at the most broadcasted event was amazing. It is a goal people work years and years to obtain," Spencer said.

Owens said the program is great for resumes. The job placement rate for communications students is 45 percent nationwide. Out of 200 students who participated in the program in Atlanta, 90 percent found jobs right out of college, Owens said.

Thirty-two students from BYU have already signed up for the program, Owens said.

Jon Madsen, 23, a senior from Provo majoring in psychology, will be participating in the program.

He learned about the program in a presentation in his communications class.

"Some friends of mine applied and were accepted. So I decided to do it," Madsen said.

Madsen is excited to be involved in the Olympics.

"I am thinking I will probably carrying a lot of cameras. I just want to be close to the Olympics. It will be worth whatever they make me carry around," Madsen said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Aug 2000