Sporting Witness

In 2012, the Rwandan sitting volleyball team became the first Paralympians from their country. The sport began in Rwanda after thousands of people were mutilated during the genocide of 1994, and there were emotional scenes in London when the Rwandan side eventually won a match. Bob Nicholson talks to Rwanda’s captain, Emile Vuningabo, and the side’s Dutch coach, Peter Karreman. The programme is a Whistledown Production.PHOTO: The Rwandan team blocking a shot at London 2012 (Getty Images)

In 1991, Willy T Ribbs became the first African-American driver to take part in the Indianapolis 500 - the biggest motor sport event in the USA. He talks to Jo Parsons about his long battle for sponsorship and the inspiration of Muhammad Ali.(Photo: Willy T Ribbs. Credit: Associated Press)

The Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell, is famous for refusing to run on a Sunday in the Paris Olympics of 1924. But, as depicted in the film Chariots of Fire, he went on to win Gold in a different event - the 400 metres. After the Olympics, Eric Liddell became a Christian missionary in China, where he died in an internment camp during World War Two.Simon Watts tells the extraordinary story of Eric Liddell's life using archive material and an interview with Steve Metcalf, a survivor from the camp. The programme was first broadcast in 2011.(Photo: Eric Liddell. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1984, the women's marathon was held in the Olympic Games for the first time. But to the horror of the crowd in Los Angeles, one of the runners, Gabriela Andersen-Scheiss of Switzerland, entered the stadium in a state of virtual collapse from heat exhaustion. The 40-year-old ski instructor was not used to the hot Californian climate. She had to hobble her way around the final lap of the race. The crowd of ninety thousand people in the LA Memorial Colosseum cheered her on as she made it to the finish line. Andersen-Scheiss tells Ashley Byrne about her ordeal. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production that was first broadcasted in 2016. (Photo: Andersen-Scheiss finishing the race in 1984. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1952, the Czechoslovak army officer, Emil Zatopek, won three distance-running gold medals at the Helsinki Olympics. As well as achieving a unique feat in athletics, Zatopek charmed the world at the height of the Cold War with his blend of fun, generosity and ability to speak eight languages. Simon Watts introduces archive recordings of Emil Zatopek and talks to Richard Askwith, author of "Today we die a little: The rise and fall of Emil Zatopek".PHOTO: Emil Zatopek leading the Olympic 5,000 metres in 1952 (AFP/Getty Images)

In 1976, the 14-year old Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, achieved the first "Perfect 10" at the Olympic Games. Nadia scored six more 10s in Montreal and became an international celebrity. In 2011, she spoke to Madeleine Morris.PHOTO: Nadia Comaneci at the 1976 Olympics (Getty Images)

At the 1996 games in Atlanta, Nigeria became the first African team to take football gold at the Olympics. A side featuring many future legends beat Argentina and Brazil on their way to a victory that brought joy to a nation still under military dictatorship. Alex Last talks to Supereagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh.(Photo: The Nigerian team celebrate. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1976, the Austrian racing driver, Niki Lauda, crashed into an embankment at the notoriously dangerous Nurburgring circuit in Germany. As flames engulfed his car, Lauda had to be rescued by his fellow drivers, but somehow survived despite being given the last rites in hospital. Ashley Byrne talks to ex-Formula 1 driver, Brett Lunger, who helped pull Lauda from the wreckage. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production.PHOTO: Niki Lauda shortly after his accident (Associated Press).

In 2000, four athletes from war-torn East Timor were invited to compete at the Sydney Olympics. One of them was marathon runner, Agueda Amaral, who went from refugee to Olympic finisher in the space of a year. She tells her story to Rebecca Henschke of the BBC Indonesian Service.PHOTO: Agueda Amaral at the Olympic finish line (Getty Images).

In 1975, Arthur Ashe beat the world number one Jimmy Connors to become the first African-American to win Wimbledon. In 2011, Ashe's friend and agent, Donald Dell, told Louise Hidalgo about that memorable match - and about what else Ashe might have achieved if he had not died young. (Photo: Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon. Credit: Getty Images)

At the 1976 Olympics, the Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto horrified the world by continuing to compete in the team event despite breaking his knee during the floor exercise. Determined not to let down his team-mates, Fujimoto braved almost unbearable pain to achieve good scores on the pommel horse and rings, and help Japan to gold. Shun Fujimoto relives his agony with Ashley Byrne. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production.(Photo: The injured Shun Fujimoto showing off his gold medal. Credit: Associated Press)

The Greek weightlifter, Pyrros Dimas, is a three-time Olympic champion and national hero nicknamed the 'Lion of Himara'. In 2004, an ageing Pyrros faced his toughest challenge when the Olympic Games came to Athens and he was forced to compete with a knee injury. Despite the pain, Pyrros battled to a bronze medal, sparking delirious scenes in the weightlifting arena. Pyrros Dimas talks to Adrian Moorhead. The programme is a Sparklab Production.(Photo: Pyrros Dimas. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In 1992, the Danish football team were called back from their beach holidays and invited to play in the European Championship when Yugoslavia began to collapse into civil war. Despite their failure to qualify properly for the tournament, Denmark beat Holland and then Germany to clinch a surprise victory. Will Yates talk to midfielder, John Jensen, who scored one of the Danish goals in the final. The programme is a Whistledown Production.(Photo: The Danish team celebrate. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1961, Brojen Das, a swimmer from the Ganges Delta, broke the world record for the crossing from France to England at the sixth attempt. The achievement earned him an audience with the Queen and made him a hero in what is now Bangladesh. Farhana Haider introduces Brojen Das's own account and speaks to his daughter, Sanghita Pal.PHOTO: Brogen Das, still covered in grease after his record breaking swim 1961 (credit: Sanghita Pal)

In 1976, a young and inexperienced American boxing team won five gold medals at the Montreal Olympics, defeating many of their Cuban and Soviet rivals on the way. Now acclaimed as one of the best teams of all time, the US boxers included future world champions such as Sugar Ray Leonard. Ashley Byrne talks to the youngest member of the squad - gold medallist Leo Randolph. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production.(Photo: Leo Randolph in action at the 1976 Olympics. Credit: AP)

In May 1949, a plane carrying the Torino football team crashed into a mountain near Turin killing 31 people. At the time, "Il Grande Torino" were the dominant team in Italy and Europe, but the club never really recovered from an accident that killed almost the entire squad. Nick Marsh meets Carla Maroso,the widow of one of the Torino players, and life-long Torino fan Gianpaolo Oremezzano.PHOTO: A commemorative postcard for the Torino players (AP)

In 1980, the newly independent nation of Zimbabwe was invited to enter a women's hockey team at the Olympic Games in Moscow. Despite their unfamiliarity with the pitches - and each other - the players won an unexpected gold medal and were nicknamed the Golden Girls. Claire Bowes talks to Liz Chase, one of the Zimbabwean team.PHOTO: The Zimbabwean team arrive home to an ecstatic reception (AP).

In the 1950s and 60s, the Australian swimmer, Dawn Fraser, became one of the most famous athletes in the world - winning the Olympic 100 metres three times in a row. But Fraser was almost as well known for her rebellious attitude and bad behaviour out of the pool. Kirsty Mcquire talks to Dawn Fraser and her coach, Harry Gallagher. The programme is a Sparklab Production.Photo: Dawn Fraser. Credit: Getty Images Sport)

In April 1980, the young amputee Terry Fox began an attempt to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research and awareness. The "Marathon of Hope" covered 1000s of kilometres and captured the public imagination before Terry had to stop in tragic circumstances. Adrian Moorhead talks to Terry Fox's brother and a key member of the support team. The programme is a Sparklab Production.(Photo: A memorial to Terry Fox in Canada. Credit: AP)

Shaul Ladany is a long-distance Israeli race-walker who set world records that stand to this day. But, even more remarkably, he survived a childhood in the Belsen concentration camp and then the terrorist attack on the Israeli team at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Shaul Ladany talks to Will Yates. Picture: Shaul Ladany in action at the 1972 Olympics (from his personal archive)