FISU is launching a sports journalism education program coinciding with the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China in August this year.
“It was a tough choice as a great number of the applicants were valuable candidates,” said Leonz Eder, chairman of the International Press Committee of FISU.
Earlier, the organization originally wanted to choose 10 — two from each of the five continents — but decided to accept 12 due to the high number of applicants from the Americas.
Variety sports reporter Cruz and Australia’s Dominick Czakilew are representing Oceania in the program for young sports journalists.
They will receive specialized media training from seasoned mentors of the International Sports Press Association or AIPS.
“I knew that this was a once in a lifetime chance,” Cruz said.
He said he looks forward to training with other young sports journalists.
“I’d really like to thank the International University Sports Federation and its affiliated organizations for giving us this opportunity,” he said.
He admitted that he didn’t think he would be chosen.
He said, “But then I thought, ‘It wouldn’t hurt to try.’”
Cruz, a graduate of Marianas High School, will be staying in Shenzhen, China for 14 days.
According to Eder, “We are really looking forward to work with these young enthusiast kids in Shenzhen. It will be a first for FISU and it will give these young journalists a wonderful experience for their future careers in journalism.”
Cruz’s travel expenses will be covered by FISU while his accommodation will be free courtesy of the Chinese organizing committee.
The seminar coincides with the 26th Summer Universiade, an international sporting and cultural festival staged every two years.
Cruz and Australia’s Czakilew will be joined by Sene Diacounda of Senegal and Komugisha Usher of Uganda, representing Africa; Erin Meagher and Justin Fauteux of Canada, Everton Ferreira de Melo of Brazil and Natasha Campos Mendez of Costa Rica, representing the North and South and Central Americas; Tirtha Kumar Sarma of Indonesia and Enkhnaran Jargalsaikhan of Mongolia, representing Asia; and German Nicole Torregrossa and Serb Sonja Nikčević, Europe.
