In the latest installment of Nickelodeon's popular news series, young American athletes share their stories and dreams of making it to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The special also explores the daily sacrifices they make in order to be successful in their sport.
Original Nickelodeon Press Release:
YOUNG OLYMPIC HOPEFULS CHASE THEIR DREAMS IN NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE "GOING FOR COLD GOLD," PREMIERING TUESDAY, DEC. 10, AT 8PM (ET/PT) ON NICKELODEON
NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2013 – Young American athletes share their stories and dreams of making it to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in the brand-new Nick News with Linda Ellerbee special, “Going For Cold Gold,” premiering Tuesday Dec. 10, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The special explores the daily sacrifices they make in order to be successful in their sport.
"Watching those girls play, something clicked, and I just realized I want to be in the Olympics. I want to play for Team USA. And I want to win a gold medal," says Jincy Dunne, a 16-year-old women’s hockey player from O'Fallon, Miss.
"We're not just trying to be the best in the U.S. because we already are. We’re trying to be the best in the world," says Sarah Chen, an 18-year-old speed skater from San Marino, Calif.
Aaron Blunck, a 17-year-old freestyle skier from Crested Butte, Colo. says he’s been on the snow since he was 18 months old. "The Olympic dream has given me a ton of purpose in my life I think."
Seth Jones, a 19-year-old hockey player from Frisco, Texas, thought his dreams had already come true when he earned a spot on the Nashville Predators. But when he found out he had a chance to play on the Olympic team, he couldn't believe it. "If I were to be picked for the Olympic team, that would be unbelievable. It’d be a huge honor and I would be so happy to go over there and represent my country."
While these kids make great sacrifices, they also realize how lucky they are to have this opportunity. "I mean, I'm 17 years old and I'm traveling around the world and snowboarding for a living," says Arielle Gold of Steamboat Springs, Colo. "...not many kids my age can say that."
"Some favor the Winter Games. Others prefer the Summer Games," says Ellerbee. "I like to think the Olympic Games celebrate the springtime of humanity, an always fresh time and ever changing place where nations can come together in peaceful competition. This is why the Olympic Games belong to everybody."
Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 22nd year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won its 10th Emmy Award for Forgotten But Not Gone: What You Still Need to Know about AIDS and You in the category of Outstanding Children's Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children’s programming include: Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics, The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In addition, in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War — the first-ever kids' television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents’ Choice Awards.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 34th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).
###
Tags: Nick News With Linda Ellerbee Ratings
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News!
