logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2016
8m 55s

Blood in the Water

Bbc World Service
About this episode

At the 1956 Olympics, political tension between Hungary and the Soviet Union boiled over during the water polo semi-final. The confrontation became known as the 'Blood in the Water' match. In 2011, Witness spoke to the late Ervin Zador, the star player on the Hungarian side.

(Photo: Ervin Zador. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Up next
Aug 23
Organising the first Women's Rugby World Cup
In 1991, English players wanted the first Women's Rugby World Cup to be close to home because of travel costs. With little help from the sport's governing body, Deborah Griffin, Alice D Cooper, Sue Dorrington and Mary Forsyth organised it themselves.Alice D Cooper tells Uma Dorai ... Show More
10m 37s
Aug 16
The referee who invented the red card
It was during the 1966 World Cup match between England and Argentina that one of England’s leading professional referees, Ken Aston, had an idea that would revolutionise football. Aston, who was watching the game from the stands, was concerned over apparent language barriers betw ... Show More
9m 58s
Aug 9
Shuttlecock scandal
At the London 2012 Olympics, a women’s doubles badminton match between China and South Korea caused controversy when the four players were disqualified for deliberately underperforming. This incident, which marred the spirit of the games, saw the players serving into the net and ... Show More
10m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
The dirtiest chess match in history
In 1978, the World Chess Championship between the Soviet champion and convinced communist, Anatoly Karpov, and the dissident and defector, Viktor Korchnoi, turned into one of the most infamous clashes in the history of the game. At a time of peak Cold War tension, the two players ... Show More
9m 2s
Dec 2022
World Wars & World Cups
An accusation that has dogged the Qatar World Cup throughout the tournament is that of ‘sportswashing’. You’ve probably seen it in an article, or heard it in a news report. But what does ‘sportwashing’ actually mean, and where did it come from? While the term itself wasn't coined ... Show More
24m 7s
Jan 2024
The Hungarian footballer executed for love
The Magnificent Magyars were Hungary’s golden football team of the 1950s.But behind their shine lay a dark secret.In 1951, defender Sándor Szűcs was executed for trying to defect from the communist regime.The married centre-back had wanted to leave Hungary with his lover, singer ... Show More
9 m
May 2021
The Battle of Salamis (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Prof Michael Scott and comedian Shappi Khorsandi in 480 BCE for one of history’s most notorious naval battles - The Battle of Salamis. On their journey through the events leading up to the battle and beyond, they hear about one of the most unusu ... Show More
28m 22s
Jul 2020
The Battle of Salamis
Host Greg Jenner is joined by historian Professor Michael Scott and comedian Shappi Khorsandi to head back to 480BCE for one of history’s most notorious naval battles - The Battle of Salamis. On a journey through the events leading up to the battle and beyond we will uncover one ... Show More
55m 4s
Mar 2024
كيف هو السودان بعد ما يقرب من عام من الحرب ؟
فراس كيلاني مراسل بي بي سي الخاص تحدث لبودكاست "يستحق الانتباه" عن مشاهداته في السودان بعد نحو عام من اشتعال الحرب فيها . و أطلع البود كاست على ما دار خلف الكاميرات أثناء تصوير فيلم "السودان: صراع على جثة وطن" . وتسببت الحرب في السودان في واحدة من أكبر الكوارث الإنسانية في العالم ... Show More
20m 33s
Dec 2022
Sportswashing and the Nazi Olympics
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup well underway, the phenomenon of sportswashing is once again in everybody's minds. Autocracies and democracies alike have long relied on major sporting events to shore up their legitimacy and project their presence on the world stage. But why is sport ... Show More
26m 23s
Jul 2021
Episode 58 Origin Stories And Gold Medals
Origin stories, comic mis-starts, and medal-winning moments are highlighted in this episode featuring two unlikely international star athletes. Canada's Bobbie Rosenfeld overcame, among other things, small pox and very large pants to run her way into history - not just as an athl ... Show More
33m 28s
Sep 2022
Dassler brothers’ rift
In 1948, brothers Adi and Rudi Dassler who lived in a small German town fell out. They went on to create globally renowned sportswear firms Adidas and Puma. Adi Dassler played a crucial role in West Germany's victory in the 1954 World Cup with his game-changing footwear. Reena St ... Show More
10m 21s
Oct 2022
World Corrupt Episode 1: A Toxic Love Affair between Politics and Sports
This fall, when the eyes of the world turn towards Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a shadow looms over the tournament, which is one of the most watched events in the world. The sports landscape being co-opted for geo-political and corporate gain is nothing new, but this year's ... Show More
46m 37s