A group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students are bound for the Beijing Olympics in August to participate in the broadcast of the international event around the globe.

 

Due to fly to China from Australia on Friday 1 August are Bachelor of Arts (Television Production) students Ms Katrina Beesley from Maitland in NSW, Ms Lara Cawsey from Stanwell Park in NSW, Mr Paul Millgate from Narromine in NSW, Mr Andrew Varvel from Sydney, as well as Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Stage and Screen) student Ms Hannah Smith from Sydney.

 

The third year CSU students, based on the University’s Wagga Wagga Campus, will work as camera operators and production support staff from studios around the Olympic Green in Beijing, where key venues such as the National Stadium and National Aquatics Centre are located.

 

 “This is a wonderful opportunity for the students as they head into the final six months of their degree,” said television production course coordinator, Mr Patrick Sproule.

 

“To participate in the broadcast of Beijing Olympics is an experience they will remember well into their careers.

 

“A position on the Olympics is something most broadcast professionals aspire to have in their resume, so to have an opportunity to participate at the beginning of their career reflects the confidence the industry has in the quality of our graduates.”

 

“I am so excited to be part of this huge television event, particularly at such a young age,” said Ms Beesley. “The opportunity is amazing and one that I hope will open doors for us in the television industry.”

 

“To be working at the Beijing Olympics will be an amazing chance for us and I know that our CSU course has prepared us well for the experience,” said Mr Varvel.

 

The group will film news and current affairs during the Games which will then be broadcast live to countries throughout the world.

 

“During the Olympic Games, we will be working with remote directors, who will be based back in the countries which receive our footage,” said Mr Millgate.

 

Through its School of Visual and Performing Arts on the Wagga Wagga Campus, CSU educates the television production students for entry to industries such as broadcast television, pay television and independent production. With strong ties to the broadcast and entertainment sectors, the students investigate scriptwriting, single and multi camera production, multi-track sound recording, post production and outside broadcast production.

 

The selected students were identified during an industry workshop at CSU in 2007. The trip to Beijing will be considered part of their compulsory internship for third year television production students.

 

The students’ work at the 2008 Olympics will start on Friday 1 August until Friday 29 August.