More than the Score

BBC World Service
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SPORT
  • UPDATED DAILY

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. A multi-sport global podcast from the BBC World Service, every weekday. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

  1. Why is figure skating not at the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

    1 DAY AGO

    Why is figure skating not at the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

    Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics, with skaters like Alysa Liu becoming global stars following their success at the Games. However, the sport hasn't been a part of this year's Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina. Figure skating has yet to be officially sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee, and has never featured on the Paralympic programme. Dan Rodenby is a development officer at British Ice Skating and works on the organisation's Let's Skate programme, which is designed to help people with a disability get involved in skating, both on and off the ice. He explains to Lee James why recognition of figure skating by the International Paralympic Committee would be hugely significant for those looking to get involved in the sport. Among those advocating for its inclusion is the former figure skater Rhiannon Parker-Nicholls. She became ill as a teenager and suffered multiple strokes aged 19, which have led to her living with long-term health issues. She tells Emma Tracey from Access All - the BBC's disability news and mental health podcast - why she's seeking a return to skating and what the sport can do to help get people like her involved again. Emma Tracey also speaks to Margarita Sweeney-Baird, the founder and chair of Inclusive Skating - a charity designed to help skaters with disabilities to participate in the sport. Her hope is that we see figure skating at the Winter Paralympics in 2038. Access All is the BBC's weekly podcast about disability news, mental health and wellbeing for listeners all over the world. Search for BBC Access All wherever you get your podcasts. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like para-skiing star Menna Fitzpatrick, Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    20 min
  2. Max Verstappen: Why an F1 great is taking on a 24-hour race

    2 DAYS AGO

    Max Verstappen: Why an F1 great is taking on a 24-hour race

    Max Verstappen is the greatest Formula 1 driver of this decade. Since making his debut as a 17-year-old back in 2015, he's won four world championships and 71 races. But this week, he's announced he'll also be taking on a new challenge by competing in the Nurburgring 24-hour race in May - one week before the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix. At the same time, Verstappen has also said he wishes Formula 1 racing was "more fun" at present. New rule changes brought into the sport at the Australian Grand Prix have met with a mixed reception, with some saying the new emphasis on energy management is robbing the sport of skill and excitement. So what's the appeal of endurance racing - and might it prove more attractive to Verstappen than the sport that's made him famous? Seb Priaulx is an endurance racer from Guernsey who's working with Ford on a bid to win the iconic Le Mans 24-hour race in 2027. He tells More than the Score's John Bennett about what it takes to make it through an endurance race, where drivers compete as part of teams, racing in shifts. He also explains the challenges that the different styles of sportscars present, from GT3 cars to hypercars, and why he thinks Verstappen is well-suited to this new style of racing. BBC Sport's Matt Warwick also joins the pod to talk about the appeal of endurance racing from a spectator's perspective, and why the format offers a different range of experiences to appreciate. He also considers how the new rules have impacted Formula 1, and whether other racers might also look to test themselves in new formats. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    24 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    Is Poland’s Ekstraklasa the most exciting competition in football?

    The Ekstraklasa, the top division of Polish football, is currently having one of the most exciting seasons in its history. The top spot in the table – currently occupied by Zaglebie Lubin - has changed hands multiple times, and the top nine clubs in the 18-team division are currently separated by just eight points. The league’s top scorers, Lechia Gdansk, are 11th in the table, while its best defence belongs to eighth-placed Wisla Plock – who are currently on a five-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the most successful club in the history of Polish football, Legia Warsaw, are currently in the relegation zone, along with Widzew Lodz – who this season have signed five of the most expensive players in Polish football history. So what’s happened to make the Ekstraklasa so unpredictable, and does the football on the pitch live up to the stunning statistics? Polish football journalist Piotr Kozminski tells More than the Score’s John Bennett about the background to this remarkable season, and explains how the introduction of the Europa Conference League has been a game-changer for Polish clubs. He also suggests that neutral fans might want to keep an eye on Gornik Zabrze, where legendary striker Lukas Podolski could be set to make history in the boardroom. Colin Millar of the Athletic discusses the Ekstraklasa’s impact in the wider context of European football, and shares some of his favourite things about the season – including how one club lost two games in a row, yet still climbed the table. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    22 min
  4. Are mixed teams the future of Olympic relay races?

    4 DAYS AGO

    Are mixed teams the future of Olympic relay races?

    Only 10 teams took part in the men's Winter Olympic cross-country skiing relay final, which was won by Norway for a third consecutive time. They were led to gold by perhaps the greatest Olympian of all time, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. Despite his country's successes, journalist Jan Petter Saltvedt explains to Ade Adedoyin why he thinks it's time for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to switch to a mixed team event. Jan believes if teams only need to pick their top two men and top two women for one relay, that will make standards easier to achieve for more nations. Martyn Rooney is a former British 400m runner and Olympic medallist, who now works as a relay coach for UK Athletics. He says the mixed relay - which was introduced as an event in 2019 - was a great success at the Paris Olympics and thinks it will one day become the main event when it comes to relay competition. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    19 min
  5. Are O'Neill, Warnock and Ancelotti changing perceptions of older managers?

    5 DAYS AGO

    Are O'Neill, Warnock and Ancelotti changing perceptions of older managers?

    The average age of a manager in the Premier League in the 2025/26 season is 45. 10 years ago, it was 53. As far as modern football at the highest level is concerned, managers appear to be getting younger. But are older coaches being unfairly overlooked? Scottish giants Celtic have twice turned to 74 year-old Martin O'Neill this season while former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti  will take Brazil to the men's 2026 World Cup and is still regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time at the age of 66. Former Premier League manager, Phil Brown, tells John Bennett why players are looking at a career in management much earlier than those who played in the 90s. Brown also worked as assistant to Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers. He says 'Big Sam' still has what it takes to manage at the top of the game and should have been considered for the Tottenham Hotspur job ahead of Igor Tudor.  Mark Ogden, senior football writer at ESPN,  explains why the likes of 71 year-old Allardyce, and 77 year-old Neil Warnock - who's just returned to management with non-league Torquay United - deserve more respect and shouldn't always be overlooked for up-and-coming managers such as former Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim.  Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    25 min
  6. Can Welsh rugby be saved?

    6 MAR

    Can Welsh rugby be saved?

    Wales were giants of rugby union in the 1960s and 70s, but are now struggling to compete at the top end of the sport. The men's team are currently enduring a historically difficult period, losing 23 of their last 25 matches. This includes a streak of 18 consecutive Test defeats that only ended in July 2025 with a victory against Japan. In the Six Nations, they have suffered 13 successive losses, only five years after winning the competition. Wales rugby commentator Gareth Rhys Owen explains to Ed Harry why the team's decline was inevitable, given its reliance on the generational talents that led them to success in the 2010s. He also says structural and financial problems within the country's domestic game could result in the game losing its place as the country's most popular sport. Former Wales and British and Irish Lions winger, Alex Cuthbert, says uncertainty about the future of the domestic game is creating a disconnect between fans and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    23 min
  7. Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest: Teaming up to tackle the Paralympics

    5 MAR

    Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest: Teaming up to tackle the Paralympics

    Menna Fitpatrick was born with a visual impairment known as congenital folds. It's left her with no vision in her left eye, and five percent vision in her right. As a child, she learned to ski with her dad on family holidays - and is now Britain's most decorated Winter Paralympian, with six alpine skiing medals in total, including a slalom gold at Pyeongchang in 2018. At the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Menna will be guided on the slopes by Katie Guest, who's acted as her guide skier since 2021. However, Katie was ruled out of the 2022 Games in Beijing by a positive Covid test - meaning she's about to ski onto the Paralympic stage for the first time. More than the Score's Ed Harry talks to Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest about how they've formed a winning combination, how trust is built up in a partnership, and the surprising role of Disney movies in bringing them together. Menna also explains the importance of colour in navigating the course, while Katie discusses the challenges of making sure that both she and Menna cross the finish line ahead of their competition. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    20 min
  8. Cadillac and Audi: Formula 1's new cars on the grid

    4 MAR

    Cadillac and Audi: Formula 1's new cars on the grid

    When the 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the opening race in Australia, there will be two new teams on the grid representing two of the world's biggest car companies. Audi has taken over the Sauber team - it's the parent company, the Volkswagen Group's first foray into the highest level of the sport. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team - backed by the American car giant General Motors - will become the 11th team on the grid and the first completely new team to join F1 since Haas in 2016. But what does it take to build a F1 team from scratch - and how successful can the newcomers to the grid be? Cadillac's Team Principal, Graeme Lowdon, tells Lee James it takes a huge amount of people and resources to ensure they are on the grid. He says the arrival of new teams is a good thing for the sport and will bring more drama and excitement. The former McLaren team mechanic, Marc Priestley, explains why despite there being some initial opposition to Audi and Cadillac's inclusion, and the fierce rivalries within the sport, the F1 community will lend support to both should they need it. The BBC's F1 commentator, Harry Benjamin, says Audi have what it takes to finish midtable in the constructor's championship this season, but doesn't expect Cadillac and their experienced driver-duo of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to compete for points and podiums. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    26 min
See All (136)

About

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. A multi-sport global podcast from the BBC World Service, every weekday. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    More than the Score

You Might Also Like