They say that impartiality is one of the keys to being a good reporter. You should have the ability to step back from the subject however close to your heart and be able to ask questions, observe their faults and if necessary be critical.
But I've got to say the hardest I've ever been tested in my features with in terms of impartiality has been with the Afghan cricket team.
They are hand on heart the most open and accommodating group of sportsmen that you'll ever meet.
When I was growing up I used to love the game .
You know the one, you have control of four or five cogs and the idea is to get all your little tokens down to the bottom of the game.
The trouble is that your opponent can turn the same cogs from the other side and all your careful plans about getting "this cog to get the next token" go up the spout.
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In a previous life I won four gold medals at the Olympics between 1992 and 2004 and I now work at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. Whilst I was part of the Beijing team for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in the summer of 2008, my primary role is as reporter for . I've been told to expect some slings, arrows and some lively debate - if you'd like to direct the first two to my editor's blog and the last right here.
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