When I was a child, I won a National Spelling Bee.
OH, You must be from the United States, The National Spelling Bee is an american event. 
Yes. I am. Have you ever taken part in a spelling bee?
No, I am from Canada, while participants from others countries are accepted, they must be regional (from the US) spelling bee winners. 
Ah. I think having spelling bees are important as they offer young people a chance to win something academically rather than just through sports.
Yeah, It is also prestigious, every territories of the US ( Guam, Samoa, Virgin Island) participate. 
Yeah, precisely. I feel that there needs to be more emphasis in general on praising those who excel academically too - the majority of scholarships and awards are for sports these days.
It is important to nurture motivation, we have to direct the aspirations of the academically gifted. 
Yes, I agree with that. I feel that colleges often focus on sports as it makes them more money.
The education for gifted people needs more ressources, you have to enrich the curriculum as well to speed it up.