A teenager has told how he interviewed elite athletes, strolled round the Olympic village and marvelled at world-class arenas in a once -in-a-lifetime experience in Beijing.

Steven Dow was at the Olympic Games, as a McDonald's Champion Kid, after winning a Daily Echo online competition and described it as "one of the best experiences of my life."

The 14-year-old Highcliffe School pupil was chosen from hundreds in a national contest run by Echo publisher Newsquest and McDonald's. He saw the Bird's Nest Stadium and the Watercube and met Denise Lewis, James Cracknell and Beth Tweddle, who he was fortunate enough to interview.

Steven, of Glenville Road, Walkford, said: "Every detail of the athletes' village is designed to make the athletes feel at home, including a post office and a red phone box outside the athletes' room."

As if things couldn't get any better he attended a medal ceremony and met Rebecca Adlington, Louis Smith, Kathryn Merry, Darren Campbell, Daley Thompson and former USA sprinting star Carl Lewis.

"I have never been so star-struck; being in a room with so many fantastic athletes, it was crazy," said Steven.

"In the evening we went to the Olympic Green. It was spectacular - the stadiums were unforgettable, lighting up and changing colours.

"The atmosphere was in a class of its own and everyone was buzzing."