Sportsworld

With the news that FIFA are staging a global summit on 20th December when plans for reform of the football calendar are to be discussed along with the staging of a biennial World Cup, Sportsworld considers the pros, and cons of holding FIFA’s flagship tournament every two years.The proposals have been developed by a technical advisory group, led by the former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is now the chief of global football development at FIFA.Joining Sportsworld’s Lee James are former Nigeria captain and manager Sunday Oliseh, Africa football expert Mark Gleeson and former New Zealand international turned FIFA Women's World Cup manager, Bex Smith.Photo: The FIFA World Cup Trophy at the official award ceremony after the final match between France and Croatia at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 (Credit: TASS via Getty Images)

We saw leaders from around the world meet at the Cop 26 summit in Glasgow, as urgent collective action is needed to bring climate change under control.The world is warming because of emissions from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. We are experiencing extreme weather events linked to climate change - including heatwaves, floods and forest fires - which are intensifying. The past decade was the warmest on record.It's becoming increasingly apparent that the climate crisis touches everything including sport and that time is running out.We hear from the US Nordic skier Annika Landis, New Zealand international footballer Katie Rood and the former France Rugby international Julien Pierre.(Photo credit OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

30 years ago on November 16th 1991, the inaugural Women’s World Cup was staged in China. At the time, it was called the The Fifa Women’s World Championship For The M&Ms Cup. The tournament was contested by 12 teams who played 80 minute matches, and was won by the USA, who beat Norway at Guangzhou’s Tianhe Stadium in front of 65,000 people.We take you back to reflect on the impact the tournament had on women's football around the world with the Golden Ball winner Carin Jennings (now Carin Gabarra,) as we find out what it took for the USA team to lift the trophy- from gruelling flights, a punishing playing schedule to a thanksgiving meal with Pele.(Photo credit TOMMY CHENG/AFP via Getty Images)

On November 10th, 1991, South Africa were welcomed back into international cricket after a twenty-one year apartheid boycott. The one-day international series against India came four months after readmittance to the world game, and just five since the formation of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, which bought rival white and black cricket authorities together. Many believed the 1992 World Cup would be too soon for South Africa's return, but when Pakistan pulled out of a visit to India, that the door opened for South Africa to step in, and they were given just a week to get there. The side were given a hero's welcome on arrival in Calcutta and 100,000 supporters turned up for the opening match at Eden Gardens. An emotional South African captain Clive Rice said, "I know how Neil Armstrong felt when he stood on the moon”. It was that kind of day. It was that kind of tour, relieved here by the BBC's Mo Allie and those involved. Photo: South African captain Clive Rice shakes hands with India captain Moham

During the Tokyo Olympics, many athletes have made public their problems with their mental health, whether it be during the games like US Gymnast Simone Biles or before the games like Dutch Cyclist Tom Dumoulin. Delyth Lloyd presents a Sportsworld special on sport's relationship with mental health. She is joined by Team Bath Coach Anna Stembridge, former kickboxing world champion Caradh O'Donovan and former cricketer, now sports psychologist Jeremy Snape to cover three topic areas: athlete welfare, to coaching and the role of the governing bodies.

On this special Sportsworld podcast, Maz Farookhi is joined by BBC Sport's Simon Stone and football journalist and editor of the United We Stand fanzine Andy Mitten to reflect on the career of a player and now a manager whose life will always be intrinsically linked with Manchester United, nearly 25 years to the day since he first arrived at Old Trafford. We look back at his early career at Old Trafford, including hearing at length from his former United teammate Raimond van der Gouw who was unveiled as a United player on the same day as Solskjær, and discuss how his winning goal in the 1999 Champions League Final defined his United career. Norwegian football journalist Jonas Giæver tells us how Solskjær is viewed in his homeland, and the panel discuss his journey back to Old Trafford as manager.(Image: Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates at the end of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou on May 26, 1999 in Barcelona, Spain. (Credit: Ben Radford/Alls

John Bennett is joined by former Spurs defender Ramon Vega and journalists Daniel Storey and George Addo to discuss the upcoming domestic football season. The panel discuss a variety of different topics, from Manchester United's increased transfer activity, Harry Kane's future, the new managers in the Premier League and what's next for Lionel Messi and Barcelona. (Photo: Patrick Vieira, Credit: Getty Images).

Mariko Oi presents a BBC Sportsworld special documentary about the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The games catapulted Japan into the 20th century, introducing new infrastructure that is still being used to this day like the bullet train. We'll hear from residents about what the experience was like hosting the games and we'll also hear from Olympic champions Billy Mills and Ann Packer as well as cyclist Victor Vincente of America about their experiences of competing in Japan.

Sportsworld's Lee James is joined by our football reporter John Bennett, Italian football expert Mina Rzouki and the Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney to preview the final of Euro 2020 between England and Italy at Wembley. Lee speaks at length to England forward Danny Welbeck, who was part of Gareth Southgate's England squad, which reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, about the culture of the England squad under Southgate, Raheem Sterling's mentality and the emergence of Bukayo Saka. Italy midfielder Marco Veratti tells John about his boss Roberto Mancini and veteran centre backs Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, while legendary Italian manager Claudio Ranieri tells Mani Djazmi how Mancini has restored pride to the national team.(Image: Composite image of Roberto Mancini and Gareth Southgate. Credit: Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

After a year's absence due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Wimbledon is back. Sportsworld will be covering the action across the 2 weeks and what better way to whet your appetite than listening to Lee James and guests - players Jill Craybas and Taylor Townsend preview this year's tournament. There will also be appearances from current champions Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Ashleigh Barty.

The European Football Championships has always been an exciting tournament whether it's the unexpected winners to shock results. Join Lee James as he speaks to players who have experienced the highs of European Championship glory such as: Kim Vilfort who helped Denmark win the 1992 title, Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger on his countries chances of regaining some pride and Iceland's Johan Berg Gudmundsson on their shock Euro 2016 campaign and their historic win over England. Lee will also be speaking to Finland captain Tim Sparv on leading his country into their first senior men's competition.

Sportsworld's Lee James is joined by guests who featured on Sportsworld 12 months ago, to catch up and reflect on a year of destruction caused by the Covid pandemic.

On April 22nd 1996, sporting history was made when the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded. It was a huge moment for women's basketball and sport. The concept of a professional women's basketball league wasn't new. Previous attempts to start a women's pro league had failed but the WNBA had two things going for it: the backing of the NBA and the determination of many women to make the league a success. Hear from the women who scrapped and fought to help the WNBA become a giant in women's sport. The Trailblazers who made the WNBA. Produced by Tom Paton

The dates have changed but the goals remain the same , the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been billed as a symbol of human kinds victory, over the coronavirus, but will the ongoing global pandemic really allow the Olympic flame to provide the light at the end of the tunnel?Sportsworld’s Lee James is joined by Japanese Sports Journalist Yuko Suzuki, European correspondent for the Australian Newspaper Jaquelin Magnay, Celestine Karoney from BBC Africa and BBC parasport reporter Kate Grey. He ask the question what can the world expect from Tokyo’s covid games?

In March 1996 Sri Lanka pulled off one of the biggest shocks in cricket history by winning the World Cup.Having been knocked out in the first round of four of the previous five World Cups, and finished eighth in the other, Sri Lanka were never taken seriously as an international side.This is the story of how that changed, told by those involved. And how a proud island nation overcame bombings, boycotts and near-bankruptcy at the cricket board to reach the top of the world.Photo: Sri Lanka fans celebrating (Getty Images)

Sportsworld looks ahead to the upcoming 2021 Formula One season, as Lewis Hamilton looks for a record-breaking eighth world title. Joining Sportsworld’s Lee James, is former Red Bull & Williams driver Mark Webber. We also hear from Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer.Photo: Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton walks on the grid during 2021 F1 Testing. (Credit: Formula 1 via Getty Images)

50 years on since the "Fight of The Century," Sportsworld looks back at that historic fight between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier and speaks to the last unified heavyweight champion of the world Lennox Lewis.Photo: Boxer Muhammad Ali steps away from a punch thrown by boxer Joe Frazier during their heavyweight title fight dubbed the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in 1971. (Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images)

How inclusive is sport to LGBT+ athletes, and what more needs to be done? Sportsworld presenter Lee James speaks with England and Aston Villa defender Anita Asante, San Diego Loyal midfielder Collin Martin and Jamaican swimmer Michael Gunning, who is aiming to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. All are openly gay and came out while playing their sports.Photos: Aston Villa’s Anita Asante in action during a Barclays FA Women's Super League match. (Credit: Aston Villa FC via Getty Images); Collin Martin runs with the ball against the Montreal Impact. (Credit: Getty Images); Jamaican swimmer Michael Gunning competes during the Men's 200m Butterfly Heats. (Credit: Getty Images)

In the United States of America, February is Black History Month - an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the historical contributions of African Americans in the country's history and is now perhaps more poignant than ever following events in the USA over the last year. The death of George Floyd last May sparked a worldwide reaction of shock and horror at police brutality towards black people in America and led to the worldwide Black Lives Matter movement, with protests and demonstrations taking place around the globe. Many sports stars used their platform to show support. USA World Cup winner Crystal Dunn, tennis player Taylor Townsend and Olympic triple jumper Will Claye have been discussing their own experiences along with Nashville striker and former US men's international, CJ Sapong who joined Sportsworld’s Lee James to discuss racial injustice and social inequality.Photo: Philadelphia 76ers players and Toronto Raptors players kneel in honour of the Black Lives Matter movement during the nationa

Back in 1975, Lee Elder braved death threats to become the first African American golfer to play at the Masters. It was one of the last colour barriers in US sport and made him a hero to many black sportsmen and women, including Tiger Woods.But 45 years on, and in the wake of the death of George Floyd, what progress has been made to make golf more inclusive and accessible to the black community?To discuss this, Delyth is joined by Maurice Allen, who was the first African American player to become World Long Drive Champion in 2018, and current LPGA Tour player Mariah Stackhouse, who was the youngest African American woman to compete in the US Open and first African American woman to compete in the Curtis Cup.Jeff Benedict, journalist, and co-author of the number one New York Times bestselling biography of Tiger Woods, joins us to discuss whether golf has failed to capitalise on Tiger's success, and whether Tiger himself has done enough to promote diversity in the sport.We'll hear from Joseph Bramlett about his