Wordsmith Fay is Beijing bound

A media student from Diss has been selected to work in the Beijing Olympics press office during this summer's games.Fay Whittaker (21), is part of a select group of 24 students from Sheffield Hallam University who will be heading to China to work in the official media centre.

A media student from Diss has been selected to work in the Beijing Olympics press office during this summer's games.

Fay Whittaker (21), is part of a select group of 24 students from Sheffield Hallam University who will be heading to China to work in the official media centre. She will work alongside professional journalists, interviewing athletes and writing news pieces for national and international media.

Fay, who is studying for a BA in journalism studies, said: "I am really excited, it is a brilliant opportunity for me."

Officials from China initially only needed 15 students, but when they visited Sheffield Hallam last year to hold interviews and tests they were so impressed with the standard of the University's media students they decided to take 24.

Phil Andrews, senior lecturer in sports journalism at Sheffield Hallam University said, "We're delighted to be able to send so many students to work in the Games press office. Our journalism courses are among the most popular in Britain, and we attract a very high calibre of students - a reputation which is reflected in the fact that our students have been invited to take part."

The students will be heading out to China on July 3 in plenty of time to prepare for the start of the Olympics on August 8 and some of the students will be staying on to report on the Para Olympics which ends on September 18.