Sportshour - How Sport helped America to heal: 9/11 20 years on
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On the 20th anniversary of the 11 September attacks on the United States, we reflect on the role that Sport played, and continues to play, in helping to rebuild the lives of those affected and in remembering those who died.
Mary Wittenberg was assistant race director for the New York Marathon in 2001. Going ahead just a few weeks after the attacks, it was the city’s biggest mass gathering since the losses suffered on September 11. US Sport’s big team franchises had already resumed playing but, says Mary, this was the first chance for ordinary New Yorkers to do something for their family and friends; either in remembrance or in solidarity.
We also look at the lasting legacy of Mark Bingham, who died over-powering those who had hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.
The Bingham Cup, set up in his honour, is one of the premier International Gay Rugby competitions. Karl Ainscough-Gates, the chair of International Gay Rugby, joins us to remember Mark’s sacrifice and celebrate how he continues to change lives to this day.
Plus, The Washington Post’s Jerry Brewer weighs the question of whether the relationship between sport and patriotism in the United States, which grew as a result of 9/11 and the subsequent ‘War on Terror’, has become – in the 20 years since – something toxic.
We are also joined by …
Endurance Swimmer, Lewis Pugh, who has just completed a 7.8km swim in Greenland's Ilulissat Icefjord. The distance was covered in 14 sessions over 12 days. He did it to highlight the rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet as a result of climate change. The mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord measures 7.8 km, and is fed by the world’s fastest-moving glacier.
Tokyo Paralympics Wheelchair Basketball gold-medallist, Mariska Beijer, discusses how victory for the Dutch team in her event can help to grow Para Sport in the Netherlands… and tells us about having afternoon tea with the country’s King and Princess!
Piers Edwards, from BBC Africa Sport, tells us about footballer Jean-Pierre Adams, who died this week, having slipped into a coma in 1982 when he went into hospital for a routine operation. Piers, as a younger reporter, spent time with Adams’ family and learned about how they managed every day, knowing that Jean-Pierre would never wake up.
We hear what the now double Olympic marathon champion, Eliud Kipchoge, wants to achieve with his new foundation. Kenya’s world record holder has been speaking to Ed Harry about building libraries and planting forests.
(Photo: New York City night. Credit: Getty Images)
Published on Saturday, 11th September 2021.
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