Ivan Boyanov: “The pinnacle of any reporter’s career”
Two-time Young Reporter Ivan Boyanov reflects on his experiences at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and how the programme has helped him fulfil his childhood dream of a successful career in sports journalism.
Cub reporter
“I have been passionate about sport since I was six years old. While other children liked watching kids’ shows on television, for me it was always all about sport. Football was my first passion, and afterwards I became a fan of winter sports, swimming and athletics. To become a sports journalist was a dream I have had since I was very young.”
Swapping classroom for newsroom
“Looking back, you could say I took my first steps into sports journalism while I was playing video games, and I would commentate to myself as the action played out on the screen. When I was at high school, I played a lot of sport and wrote match reports for the school newspaper. After I left school in 2010 aged 18, I applied for internships with various television stations in Bulgaria, and I was lucky enough to be offered a role at TV7. While most of my friends were having parties and travelling around, I was spending more than 12 hours a day in the newsroom. After three months, the station offered me a full-time contract. It was one of the best feelings in my life.”
Special recognition in China
“In 2014, I was selected to be part of the IOC’s Young Reporter Programme at the YOG Nanjing 2014, one of 35 reporters from five different continents chosen to participate. My selection was based on what I had already achieved in my career with TV7 and the potential that the Bulgarian National Olympic Committee saw in me. The programme was one of the best things that ever happened to me as a journalist. We had intensive classes and field training in written, photographic, television, radio and new media reporting, as well as guest speakers representing key international media organisations. Our mentors in Nanjing were some of the best people in their field in the world, and at the end of the programme I was named co-winner of the Steve Parry Award for the Best International Olympic Committee Young Reporter. It was a huge honour to receive such an accolade.”
Second Olympic adventure
“After Nanjing, 15 of the Young Reporters including me were invited to be part of the programme at the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016. I was a member of the video team that was mentored by Tracey Holmes, an incredible Australian with an extensive career in television and radio and one of the best journalists I have ever met. During the Games in Norway, we covered a lot of different sports, but our main task was to find inspiring and interesting personal stories from the athletes away from competition. I was lucky enough to interview American Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, who won an Olympic gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, and young American snowboard star Chloe Kim.”
I was named co-winner of the Steve Parry Award for the Best International Olympic Committee Young Reporter. It was a huge honour to receive such an accolade.
Ivan Boyanov
TWO-TIME YOUNG REPORTER
A priceless opportunity
“The Olympic Games have always inspired me as a journalist. To cover such an event is the pinnacle of the career of any sports reporter, and I am so lucky to have been a part of this. We all wait four years for this amazing event, and then in just one month you witness everything – success, failure, joy, tears, smiles and respect. Having had the opportunity to meet so many people from so many different cultures is amazing, telling their stories and in doing so bringing inspiration and communicating important lessons to your audience. It’s priceless.”
Lessons from Lillehammer
“It is essential to be yourself and be unique in your own way. A lot of journalists try to copy others, and by doing this they fail to show their own talent. Preparation is very important and also being a good listener. There are stories everywhere; it’s our job to find a way to tell these stories.”
Television transfer
“After I returned from Norway, and after six years with TV7, I received an offer from Bulgaria's biggest TV station, BTV, and I now work as a sports reporter and anchor for the station. During the last year, I’ve been the pitch reporter when Bulgarian clubs have been involved in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and I’ve also covered the FIS Snowboard World Cup, international volleyball, boxing and the European Games.”
Big screen aspirations
“I would love to make documentary films about the social aspect of sport. One of my other dreams in the future is to be able to mentor young journalists and help them develop their skills. Someday, I’m also considering working abroad if an opportunity is provided.”