Sporting Witness

BBC World Service
  • 4.7 (18)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.

  1. 4d ago

    Norway v England 1981: 'Your boys took a hell of a beating'

    In 1981, Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history, beating England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo. But the match is remembered just as much for what happened after the final whistle. Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, caught up in the joy of the moment, delivered one of the most famous lines in sports broadcasting: “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys took a hell of a beating!” His breathless commentary on NRK became a national treasure in Norway, and later a legendary sporting soundbite around the world. As he celebrated the win, Bjørge switched between English and Norwegian, calling out the names of famous figures from British history and culture before ending with the line about the then UK prime minister that made him famous. Uma Doraiswamy speaks to Bjørge Lillelien’s son, Marius Lillelien, about the man behind the microphone, the night Norway stunned England, and how a few seconds of radio commentary became one of football’s most unforgettable moments. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: England v Norway 1981 in Oslo. Credit: Monte Fresco/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

  2. Aug 29

    ‘Baby Jet’ Ghana’s sprinting superstar

    Alice Annum won two silver medals at the 1970 Commonwealth Games. It led to her becoming known as ‘Baby Jet’. She was also the first woman to represent Ghana at the Olympics and competed in the 100m, 200m and long jump. Years after her accomplishments the nickname ‘Baby Jet’ was taken on by the Ghanian footballer, Asamoah Gyan. In 2024, She told Gill Kearsley the story of how she got, and reclaimed, her nickname. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Alice Annum in 2024. Credit: Sally McBratney)

  3. Aug 21

    Creating the English Premier League

    In the 1990s, the biggest clubs in English football decided to form a new league to bring in more revenue. Spearheaded by the ‘big five’ of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, the top teams broke away from the Football League in 1992. Backed by the Football Association, the Premier League began on the 15 August 1992, after securing a $500 million TV deal. David Dein was the vice-chairman of Arsenal in 1992 and was one of the main drivers of the new league. He tells Tim O’Callaghan how it was done. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Players from the 24 clubs in the new Premier League at the launch. Back row: David Hirst, Sheffield Wednesday; Lee Sharpe, Manchester United; Tony Daley, Aston Villa; Vinnie Jones, Chelsea; Mark Wright, Liverpool; John Wark, Ipswich Town; Tim Flowers, Southampton; Tim Sherwood, Blackburn Rovers. Middle row: Ian Brightwell, Manchester City; Ian Butterworth, Norwich City; Hans Segers, Wimbledon; Lee Hurst, Coventry City; Carl Bradshaw, Sheffield United; Gordon Durie, Tottenham Hotspur; David Hillier, Arsenal. Front row: Gary Charles, Nottingham Forest; Andy Ritchie, Oldham Athletic; John Salako, Crystal Palace; Andy Sinton, Queens Park Rangers; Alan Kernaghan, Middlesbrough; Gordon Strachan, Leeds United; Peter Beardsley, Everton. Credit: Sky Sports)

  4. Aug 15

    The first Ultimate Frisbee World Championship

    In 1983, Maini Schildt competed in the first Ultimate Frisbee World Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Maini was a teenager when, as part of the Finnish women's national team, she reached the final against the USA. Ultimate Frisbee was developed in the late 1960s in the United States before spreading to Canada and beyond. Maini Schildt tells Maddy Savage how it felt to compete at the tournament, the first of its kind in the history of the sport. Produced by Carys Wall. A Bespoken Media production. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: The Finnish and American Ultimate Frisbee teams after the 1983 Ultimate Frisbee World Championship. Credit: Maini Schildt)

  5. Aug 8

    The first time women played basketball at the Olympics

    In 1976, women's basketball made its Olympic debut. Men's basketball had been part of the Olympic programme since 1936, yet it took another 40 years before women were given the opportunity to compete. The first women's Olympic basketball game was played between the United States and Japan. Juliene Brazinski Simpson, co-captain of the US team, speaks to Stefania Gozzer about that historic moment. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: The US women's basketball team playing against Bulgaria in Montreal in 1976. Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

  6. Aug 1

    When Hearts’ dream season turned sour

    In 1986, Edinburgh football club Heart of Midlothian, known as Hearts, came within touching distance of glory. Just a few years earlier, the club had been in serious trouble, both on and off the pitch. But under manager Alex MacDonald, Hearts mounted an extraordinary challenge in a league long dominated by Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers, the Old Firm. Reena Stanton-Sharma tells the story through BBC archive interviews with midfielder Gary Mackay and striker John ‘Robbo’ Robertson, as they remember the joy, pressure and heartbreak of a remarkable season. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Gary Mackay (centre) runs with the ball as Stewart McKimmie (left) of Aberdeen chases during the Scottish Cup Final match at Hampden Park in Glasgow in 1986. Credit: Allsport)

  7. Jul 25

    When the NFL came to Europe

    In 1991, the NFL decided to create an international league of American football teams. Six new teams were formed in the USA, one in Canada and three in Europe. This eventually became an entirely European league in 1995, with teams in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands and the UK. Oliver Luck was involved in the formation of the project between 1991 and 2000. He shares his memories with Tim O’Callaghan. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Frankfurt Galaxy players celebrating winning the World Bowl in 2003. Credit: Action Images/John Sibley via Reuters)

  8. Jul 18

    The start of the Mexican Wave

    On 15 October 1981, at a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees in the USA, American cheerleader Krazy George Henderson got fans to stand up and sit down in sections around the stadium. Over the next few years, the cheer spread to supporters of other sports around the country. When crowds at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico joined in, it went global, earning the nickname the Mexican Wave. Rachel Naylor speaks to Krazy George about why he’d prefer we call it the Krazy Wave. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Cheerleader Krazy George Henderson at an Oakland A's baseball game in 1982 at the Oakland Coliseum in California. Credit: David Madison/Getty Images)

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    678
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Sporting Witness

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