Sporting Witness

In 1950, Argentina hosted the inaugural Basketball World Cup for ten teams from around the world.

Argentina beat the USA 64–50 in the final in Buenos Aires on 3 November.

Rachel Naylor speaks to Ricardo González, Argentina's captain.

(Photo: Ricardo González in 2023. Credit: María Eva González)

American Sylvie Von Duuglas-Ittu started Muay Thai fighting in Boulder, Colorado. It was a trip to Thailand that made her realise that if she wanted to progress in the sport, she would have to move there permanently to train and fight.

She quickly became one of the best fighters in the martial art, surpassing 200 fights; something no other western fighter has achieved in Thailand. She became WBC Muay Thai minimum weight world champion in 2023.

Sylvie has been speaking to Wayne Wright for this Made in Manchester production.

(Photo: Sylvie Von Duuglas-Ittu in training for a fight. Credit: Kevin Von Duuglas-Ittu)

In 2007, the first ever Clericus Cup was played, with trainee priests from the Vatican City's seminaries competing.

It was an effort to present a different image of football, following various Italian scandals.

Don Davide Tisato, the captain of the winning team and a former professional footballer, has been speaking to Laura Jones, along with Felice Alborghetti from the Centro Sportivo Italiano.

(Photo: Davide Tisato lifting the Clericus Cup with his team Redemptoris Mater. Credit: Centro Sportivo Italiano Archive)

In 2000, female riders were able to take part in the cyclo-cross world championship for the first time.

There has been a men’s event since 1950, but took another half century for female riders to be allowed to take part.

Cyclo-cross involves races on grassland and sand, which includes steep gradients and often sees riders forced to jump off and run with their bikes across muddy sections of the course.

Matthew Kenyon has been talking to Dutch rider Daphny van den Brand about the sport, her campaign and that first ever global showpiece in the Dutch town of Sint Michielsgestel.

(Photo: Daphny van den Brand. Credit: Getty Images)

In 2006, Italy's most successful team, Juventus, were relegated from the Italian top division due to their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.

The decision to demote Juventus came just days after Italy had won the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Journalist Paddy Agnew covered the case extensively from his base in Rome. He has been sharing his memories of that time with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Juventus managing director Luciano Moggi pictured in 2006. Credit: Getty Images)

At the age of 21, Tiger Woods won the US Masters in 1997 by dominating the tough golf course in Augusta. Despite turning professional only a few months before, he destroyed the competition, winning the tournament by 12 strokes. He was the first black man to win the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club, which had only allowed their first black member in 1990. This incredible win was the start of him becoming golf's most transcendent superstar.

(Photo: Tiger Woods receives the Masters green jacket from 1996 Masters champion Nick Faldo after Woods won the 1997 Masters tournament 13 April 1997 at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Credit: Getty Images)

Top New Zealand windsurfer Barbara Kendall was run over by a power boat at Christmas 1991 and told she should not sail again. She refused to believe the doctors and became the first woman to win a gold medal in windsurfing at the Olympics.

Barbara has been speaking to Laura Jones.

(Photo: Barbara with her gold medal on the podium at the Barcelona Olympics. Credit: Barbara Kendall)

In 1998, a Kenyan farmer called Philip Boit became one of the first Africans to compete in the Winter Olympics. In the 10-kilometre cross-country skiing final he faced the legendary Norwegian, Bjorn Daehlie. It was a race that would unite the two athletes and inspire future Winter Olympians across Africa. Maddy Savage spoke to both skiers in 2014.

(Photo: Bjoern Daehlie of Norway congratulates Philip Boit of Kenya after Boit finished the mens 10k cross country race at Snow Harp during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Credit: Getty Images)

The first Maccabiah Games, a multi-sport event for Jewish athletes, were held in 1932.

They now take place every four years in Israel.

Rachel Naylor speaks to Carina Benninga, who won a gold medal in 1989, as captain of the Dutch hockey team.

(Photo: Carina Benninga, top row, second from left, and the Dutch hockey team at the Maccabiah Games in 1989. Credit: Carina Benninga)

In 2004 the Mongol Rally was created; a global road trip where drivers race over 16,000 km from England to Mongolia. There’s no set route and you have to use a car with a tiny engine.

A year later it was introduced to the wider world for the first time and Richard Birch from England took on the challenge with his friends, all in an old Fiat Panda.

Richard tells Vicky Carter about his memories of the journey across Europe, Russia and Asia.

(Photo: Two cars competing in the Mongol Rally in 2004 in Mongolia. Credit: The Adventurists)