Sporting Witness BBC World Service

In May 1974, the Italian Bridge Federation invited a team of American women players to an invitational challenge match against their own women's team.
Over eight days, the two highly successful teams would compete in the city of Venice for a new trophy dubbed 'The Venice Cup'.
Originally a one-off event, the Venice Cup continues to this day as a biennial tournament and is held around the world.
Andrew Edwards speaks to American Bridge life-master Bette Cohn, now in her 90s, about her memories of the competition.
A Made In Manchester production for the BBC World Service.
(Photo: The Italian Venice Cup team. Credit: World Bridge Federation)

It's 20 years since the death of the scout responsible for finding some of the greatest players in Liverpool's history.
Geoff Twentyman joined Bill Shankly's Liverpool in 1967 as chief scout, tasked with overhauling the club's recruitment system.
Armed with his scouting diary, he unearthed lower league players who would later on go to be world beating superstars, including Kevin Keegan, Alan Hansen and Ian Rush.
His two decades as chief scout contributed to the most successful period in the club's history - as they won nine titles, six domestic cups and six European trophies.
In March 2024, a plaque celebrating Geoff along with the rest of 'the boot room boys' was unveiled outside Liverpool's Anfield stadium.
His son, Geoff Jr, has been speaking to Matt Pintus.
(Photo: Geoff Twentyman with the European Cup. Credit: The Twentyman family)

Alex Higgins was the two-times World Snooker champion from Northern Ireland whose speedy style of play helped turn the game into a must-watch sport.
But, away from the table, he was a wild boy – whose gambling, drinking and womanising eventually led to his downfall.
He died in 2010 at the age of 61.
Producer Vicky Farncombe uses archive interviews to tell the story of Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins in his own words.
(Photo: Alex Higgins. Credit: Getty Images)

It's 20 years since Mianne Bagger became the first transgender athlete to play in pro golf tournament.
The Danish golfer made history by competing at the 2004 Women’s Australian Open. It was a landmark moment for trans sport and made headlines around the world.
In 2021, Mianne Bagger spoke to Robbie Wojciechowski.
(Photo: Bagger at the 2004 Women's Australian Open. Credit: Getty Images.)

In 2007, 52-year-old Slovenian endurance swimmer Martin Strel became the first person to swim the entire length of the Amazon River.
It took him 66 days to complete and, over the course of his journey, Strel faced threats such as pirates, sharks, and dengue fever. At 3,300 miles, it’s the longest open swim in history.
He shares his experience of the swim with Hunter Charlton. It’s an Ember Audio production for BBC World Service.
(Photo: Martin Strel pictured in London in 2009. Credit: Getty Images)

A bonus episode from the Amazing Sport Stories podcast – The Black 14. Sport, racism and protests are about to change the lives of “the Black 14” American footballers. It’s 1969 in the United States. They’ve arrived on scholarships at the University of Wyoming to play for its Cowboys American football team. It was a predominantly white college. The team is treated like a second religion. Then, the players make a decision to take a stand against racism in a game against another university.

This is episode one of a four-part season from the Amazing Sport Stories podcast.

Content warning: This episode contains lived experiences which involve the use of strong racist language