What was your favourite moment from the recent Olympic Games in Rio? Perhaps it was Usain Bolt achieving the ‘triple triple’, winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 4-by-100m relay? Or maybe it was Britain’s Mo Farah successfully defending his 5,000m and 10,000m titles? Or how about the moment track cyclist Laura Trott ran to embrace her fiancé Jason Kenny immediately after he won the keirin, bringing their combined gold medal haul over two Olympics to ten?
For me it was too hard to choose as there were so many exhilarating sporting highlights and heart-warming human stories. And hats off to Rio. After prior concerns about security and the Brazilian economy, the Wonderful City delivered a Games to remember, full of passion and vibrant celebration.
The prime aim of Passion for Sport’s team of media producers in Rio was to record content for our two weekly radio programmes, Planet Sport and Planet Sport Football Africa, designed to help introduce sports fans to Jesus.
We were also keen to share the interviews, features and athlete testimonies with Christian media agencies around the world, to give them the widest possible reach. In the event Passion for Sport’s English language radio service was heard on over 800 radio stations worldwide. Stories were also picked up by online services and Christian newspapers. Popular items included our interviews with Australian Dan Smith, who told how Jesus rescued him from a life of drug and alcohol dependence and crime to become an Olympic swimmer and British bronze medallist boxer, Joshua Buatsi along with a feature on the Refugee Olympic Team.
Tom Ellis interviews Joshua Buatsi
It is great to be able share feedback from our media partners for your interest and encouragement:
“I’d say your content has been the best yet. The interviews and testimonies were really strong.” Premier Christian Radio, UK
“The service you provided was impeccable! Those very powerful stories will do wonders in the lives and souls of our listeners and absolutely glorify the Father.” Cape Pulpit 729 AM, Western Cape, South Africa
Tom Ellis interviews Dan Smith
“We used the Dan Smith interview and it was simply excellent! Thanks once again to you and your team - it meant that the message of hope was broadcast in a relevant and engaging way." 89.9 Light FM, Melbourne, Australia
“Passion for Sport provided just what we were looking for from the Rio Games: concise, relevant, focused interviews and reports, giving Christian athletes the chance to speak about their experience and the difference their faith makes in the cauldron of high pressure performance. There’s no one else we could get this from – their team did a great job!” Inspire Magazine online
“Your athlete testimony extended interviews have been massively helpful for us.” Challenge Newspaper, Australia
As we heard again when we interviewed Dan Smith in Rio, God is still in the business of changing lives. That’s why we’re so passionate about introducing sports fans to Jesus. You can help us today by making a gift here and by praying that the sports fans we meet through media will become committed followers of Jesus and in time tell others about the love and mercy of God themselves.
Adrian Barnard