Meet the six FISU-AIPS International Young Reporters who will experience the FISU Games in Torino

They come from all over the world and share a passion for storytelling, media and sport. Next January, they will join the six National Young Reporters in Italy to cover the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games.

Founded back in 2011, the FISU-AIPS Young Reporters Programme offers the opportunity to students who are passionate about media and sport to get a rare and precious hands-on experience during one of the biggest multi-sport event in the world.

The Young Reporters Programme takes journalism students (aged 20 to 25) or recent graduates in the fields of journalism and communications or digital media from all continents right into the heart of the multi-sport event for its entire duration, with full access to the competition venues and the Main Press Centre. Over this fortnight, participants are immersed in a multi-cultural learning experience that challenges them in many different ways and are joined by journalism peers from the host nation.

Lectures, mentorship and culture

In addition to covering sporting events at the FISU Games, participants also take part in lectures delivered by experienced media and communications professionals and expert mentorship from current sports journalists. 

Twelve Young Reporters will be covering the upcoming . Six are National Young Reporters from Italy and the six others come from all over the planet. When asked to send us pictures of themselves, they are all either practising sport or reporting on sporting events! Read on to meet our six International Young Reporters, Boyi, Elena, Esther, Mackenzie, Nejc and Veronica, as they introduce themselves.

Boyi Yang from China

“I am Boyi Yang, a trainee journalist in the Sports News Department of Xinhua News Agency, based in Beijing. This summer, I earned my master’s degree and officially started my career as a sports journalist.

My journey in sports events began at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, where I served as a volunteer. The snowflakes sparked my passion for sports reporting. It is a great honour for me to now work as a sports journalist, and an even greater privilege to represent the younger generation of Chinese journalists.

Being selected for the FISU-AIPS Young Reporters Programme at Torino 2025 is a true honour. This unique opportunity will allow me to further develop my skills, connect with other young reporters worldwide, and share the inspiring stories of athletes on ice and snow. I am truly grateful to be part of the Young Reporters Team, and I am thrilled to contribute to this global celebration of sports and bring meaningful narratives to a wider audience.”

This unique opportunity will allow me to further develop my skills, connect with other young reporters worldwide, and share the inspiring stories of athletes on ice and snow.

Elena Häfliger from Switzerland

“Hey, I’m Elena Häfliger and I am 24 years old. Growing up in Switzerland, surrounded by snow and mountains, I have always been fascinated by winter sports. This passion led me to biathlon, where I competed as an athlete for several years.

After quitting the sport, I set myself the goal of combining my two passions of storytelling and sport. That’s why I started my Multimedia Production studies last year. I am really happy that I now get this incredible opportunity to be a Young Reporter at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games.

I am sure that I will experience many valuable moments during these two weeks, where I will be able to learn a lot for the future. I’m really happy and excited to get this chance!”

I have always fascinated by winter sports. This passion led me to biathlon, where I competed as an athlete for several years. After quitting the sport, I set myself the goal of combining my two passions of storytelling and sport.

Esther Owusua Appiah-Fei from Ghana

“Esther Owusua Appiah-Fei is my name, I know it’s a pretty long name. So, my friends call me Enarya or Owusua for short.

I have been obsessed with sports for as long as I can remember and that is why the decision to be a sports journalist was a no brainer for me. Beyond covering sports I wanted a more niched aspect of it and that is how the resolve to cover underreported sports (mainly about women & minorities) came about. I want my storytelling to inspire change especially amongst problem solvers and I am working hard to shift narratives here in Ghana and Africa with these stories.

Being chosen for the FISU-AIPS Young Reporters Programme was truly a feeling out of this world. I was about to go for my routine morning run when I received the news and I was beyond stoked. Mainly because I see this as a challenge and an opportunity outside of my comfort zone. This will be the first time I cover anything on winter sports and I am so excited and eager to learn from my peers, our instructors and meet amazing people from all works of life.”

I want my storytelling to inspire change especially amongst problem solvers and I am working hard to shift narratives here in Ghana and Africa with these stories.

Mackenzie Barwell from Canada

“Originally from London Ontario, I now reside in Hamilton as I complete my fourth year in Communication Studies and Political Science at McMaster University. Over the past four years, I’ve developed a deep passion for sports journalism, digital content creation, and live reporting.

Currently, I serve as the Digital & In-Stadium Host for Hamilton’s professional soccer team, Forge FC, and as a Digital Media Assistant for the McMaster Marauders. I’ve been fortunate to gain hands-on experience producing multimedia content, including daily podcasts, behind-the-scenes features, and live game coverage. My journey has taken me from side-line reporting in the Canadian Premier League and Canadian Elite Basketball League, to Digital hosting for Canada Basketball and creating the original series “Marauder Mondays” for McMaster Athletics.

Interviewing athletes and amplifying their stories is something I truly love. Having worked across various levels of sport, from university teams to national organisations, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible quality and passion that student-athletes bring to their sport. While much of my experience has focused on the Canadian landscape, being selected as a young reporter for the FISU Winter Games is a unique opportunity to contribute on a global scale.

I’m especially excited to collaborate with the other Young Reporters who offer their own diverse perspectives and experiences within the industry but also, in life. Growing up as a skier (and as a Canadian) I’ve always loved, and been surrounded by winter sports, which initially drew me to the programme. This competition in Torino is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the student athletes who dedicate all year to preparing for this season, while also allowing us, as Young Reporters, to hone our craft and learn from experienced professionals and mentors.”

Interviewing athletes and amplifying their stories is something I truly love. Having worked across various levels of sport, from university teams to national organisations, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible quality and passion that student-athletes bring to their sport.

Nejc Molan from Slovenia

“I am 24 years old and finishing my journalism master’s programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana.

I have always been passionate about sports and it has been a part of my life since childhood through playing and refereeing football. I started working in journalism for a local media, before I got my first opportunity as a sports journalist at the Slovenian sports broadcaster Šport TV. For the last two years and a half I have been a sports journalist for the Slovenian Press Agency.

It is an honour to be selected as one of six Young Reporters for this amazing event. I can’t wait to meet all of my fellow Young Reporters in Torino. I hope it will be a great couple of weeks of watching amazing athletes compete and exchanging views and cultures with fellow journalistic colleagues and mentors.”

It is an honour to be selected as one of six Young Reporters for this amazing event. I can’t wait to meet all of my fellow Young Reporters in Torino. I hope it will be a great couple of weeks of watching amazing athletes compete and exchanging views and cultures with fellow journalistic colleagues and mentors.

Veronica Garcia from Mexico

“Hello, you might be wondering, who am I? The typical answer would be: my name is Veronica Garcia, a 25-year-old Mexican woman living in Paris. But since I like to make things a bit more interesting, I’d say I’m someone who’s been passionate about sports for as long as I can remember. This love for sports is what made me decide, years ago, that I would find a way to turn my passion for sports, communication, and storytelling into my career. That’s what led me to move to Paris during my master’s years, chasing one big dream: to work in the sports industry as a journalist.

Now, I’m super excited to take on this new challenge as part of the FISU-AIPS Young Reporters team at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter. Getting selected for this programme was hands down one of the best moments of my year—right up there with covering the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!

This opportunity means I get to keep telling amazing stories, whether they’re about athletes, coaches, or teams, while also highlighting the values and unforgettable moments that make sporting events so special.

But it’s much more than that. This programme is also a chance for me to keep growing as a journalist. I’ll get to learn from some of the best in the business, gain hands-on experience in different areas of the sports world, and meet incredible people from all over the globe.

I’m really looking forward to learning from their experiences and perspectives—it’s these kinds of connections that make this journey even more rewarding. I’m so excited for this next chapter, and I’m ready to give it my all while enjoying every moment to the fullest.”

For me, it’s about more than just covering games—it’s about showcasing the values and benefits of sports, and the incredible impact they can have, not just on athletes but on the people watching too.

Keep on visiting FISU.net and log on to from 13-23 January 2025 to watch these six in action as they report on all the great stories that will no doubt unveil in the Piemonte mountains and valleys.

Written by Thérèse Courvoisier, pictures courtesy of the six new FISU-AIPS Young Reporters