Tokyo 2020 becomes 2021!

(Reporter Tom Ellis, trying out Wheelchair Basketball in Tokyo)

The Coronavirus outbreak has left the team here at Passion For Sport eagerly awaiting news on what organisers will do about the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. After much pressure from governing bodies and the athletes themselves, earlier this week the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally announced that the Games & the Paralympics will be postponed until 2021, with the aim of holding it by the summer.

Now that we know about this delay, we can plan for Tokyo 2021 and other than the date, nothing else has changed in our eyes! We are still 100% committed to covering the Games and to supply content for radio stations around the world.

Please join us in prayer as we continue to watch and wait like the rest of the world for further clarity!

Entertainment Fundraiser on 7th March!

Are you free on 7th March?

In July this year, Passion for Sport will be the only sports media agency reporting from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with a Christian perspective. Our aim is to introduce sports fans to Jesus through media using radio, online and social media.

We're delighted to announce that UK- based journalist Russ Bravo will be joining our team in Tokyo. Russ is the former editor of Christian Herald and Inspire Magazine and he’s passionate to use his media skills and love for sport to help introduce sports fans to Jesus. In his spare time Russ feeds another passion of his, comedy, as co-founder and resident MC of Matt’s Comedy Club in Worthing. 

Russ’ church, St Matthews, Worthing, is fully behind his short-term mission assignment with us in Tokyo and they are actively supporting him financially and in prayer. On Saturday 7th March, from 7.30pm, Russ has a fundraiser at St Matthews. It’s going to be an evening’s entertainment. 

The first half will be an hour of music featuring local musicians and bands and the second half will feature an hour of comedy with local stand-ups, acts and some videos from a few well-known Christian comedians. Please secure your tickets by emailing russbravo@virginmedia.com. Tickets are £10- available both from Russ, and on the door on the night.

If you’re not able to join the fun please pray for Russ as he raises his costs for the Tokyo assignment and that the event on 7th March will be a great success!
 

Event: Entertainment evening, featuring local musicians and stand up comedians

Venue: St Matthews Church, Worthing

Address: 103 Tarring Rd, Worthing BN11 4HB

Start time: 7.30pm

Ticket cost: £10

We look forward to welcoming you!

Rugby World Cup- Japan trip review!

It's hard to believe that Tom Ellis and I are now on the other side of our World Cup assignment. The tournament is still going, but it's time to fill you in on what we got up to whilst we were in country. From players interviews, to visiting a Cat Cafe, it feels like we saw it all:

In interview with Willie Britz- professional Rugby player who has just qualified to play for Japan. . .

It was great to grab some time with South African-born flanker, Willie Britz in Tokyo. After spending time in Super Rugby, he now plays for the NTT Communications Shining Arcs, who play in Japan's top Rugby league. He spoke to us about how significant hosting the World Cup is, for the people of Japan, as well as sharing about his faith and how he has had to really rely on God in his move to Japan, where he knows very few people!

He has just qualified to play at international level for Japan but was sadly not looked at in time for this World Cup.

You can listen to the full interview with Willie Britz HERE.

Learning about the history of the Samurai!

Connecting with Rugby fans from all over the world!

It was quite amazing how fans from all over the globe came together to interact and watch the Rugby World Cup with each other, there was no friction, no tribe-mentality, everyone had the upmost respect for one another and their number one goal was to just have a great time! We spoke to countless Japanese fans who didn't follow Rugby, and didn't even know the rules, but got caught up in the frenzy of the tournament! It was great to see the locals embracing the sport and this has been helped massively by the performance of the Japan team, the Brave Blossoms!

Content Producer Tom Ellis in the Tokyo Stadium Fanzone!

Tom and I saw many kids playing Rugby in playgrounds and parks, they had football shirts on but were now playing the sport that they had seen on the TV! This is such a new reality for Japan and gives us hope that the Rugby legacy will be a strong one, long after the World Cup has come and gone.

We were able to connect with many Church groups and mission teams, who had come from Namibia, Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and France. It was so encouraging to see how the Japanese church was using the Rugby World Cup as a vehicle to introduce sports fans to Jesus. They told us stories of going into schools to run Rugby clinics, but ending up sharing testimonies of what God had done in their lives, to an assembly hall, packed full of kids! This does not happen in Japan, promoting Christianity is not allowed in schools!

Our goal going out to Japan was to give fans a flavour of the sights and sounds, keep them updated with the breaking stories that came from the tournament, and to provide Christian testimony, which we did, through players, fans, Church leaders and missionaries. It was great to be able to produce a programme that was informative and a real source of World Cup update, but also gave you something else, the stories of what God is doing in Japan.

We even ran into Typhoon Hagibis and were treated to an earthquake! I think back to having to place metal pans on my bed, to stop the leaks from the roof ruining my duvet! It was all a great experience and another win for Passion For Sport! You can hear our Typhoon-affected episode HERE.

Please pray for those who A) have been affected by Typhoon Hagibis, as the clear up continues and B) those who have heard one of the Japan 2019 daily podcasts, that they would take something away from it and that one of the faith interviews, even a quote, would resonate with them in some way.

You can Listen to our show from the tournament, the Planet Sport Rugby Podcast- Japan 2019 on Spreaker or iTunes.

Is Boxing morally wrong?

As we continue our new ‘Hot Topics’ Planet Sport series, we recently looked at the issue of Boxing and if the sport is morally wrong? We get a Christian athlete perspective from former Welterweight World Champion, Chris ‘The Heat’ Van Heerden and get the views from our panel, Soccer Chaplain Andy Searles and Journalist Russ Bravo! Come join us on the new series!

Have a listen:

Listen to "11 Apr: Is Boxing morally wrong?" on Spreaker.

"It's not about being big, it's about being as powerful as possible but as nimble as possible as well"

This week on Planet Sport we’re talking Rugby 7s, and more specifically, South Africa centre, Ruhan Nel. The Blitzbok star tells us about what it takes to thrive at the top of the sport and also about how Rugby is basically just part of being South African!

Listen to the Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "31 Jan: Ruhan Nel, South Africa Rugby International" on Spreaker.

"I read scriptures in the Bible, so that I know God is going to be with me in that ring" 🥊

Field Reporter Tom Ellis (L) speaking to Joshua Buatsi (R) in Rio, Brazil 2016

You can catch up on our latest Planet Sport feature, where we are looking back at the Rio 2016 Olympics and our conversation with British Boxer, Joshua Buatsi. He speaks to Tom Ellis about what it means to actually be an Olympian and how his faith in Jesus gives him the motivation that he needs!

Listen to the Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "03 Jan: Boxers Joshua Buatsi & Erick Ochieng" on Spreaker.

"It's been a wonderful year of great sporting success across the board"

Kylian Mbappe lifted the World Cup with France at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia

This week on Planet Sport it’s the turn of our Sports Reporters to give their sporting highlights from the year 2018! Featuring France wonderkid Kylian Mbappe and USA Sprint sensation, Ronnie Baker! Listen in to the annual highlights of Solomon Ashoms, Norman Brierley and Liam Flint:

Listen to the Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "20 Dec: Review of 2018, Part 2" on Spreaker.

Stuart Weir gives his 2018 Sporting Review!

Stuart Weir- Our Football Africa, European Football Expert

It’s that time of year, where at Planet Sport we look back over the year of 2018 and discuss some of the most memorable sporting moments from around the world. First up is our very own Stuart Weir, who is part of our Football Africa team and offers his expert analysis on all things European football. Listen in to his top moments from 2018:

Listen to the Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "13 Dec: Review of 2018, Part 1" on Spreaker .

Enter our Rugby competition giveaway!

A signed Saracens Tee is up for grabs!

We are really pleased to announce that we are running a giveaway competition to celebrate our latest release of the Rugby Podcast.

The prize up for grabs is an official Saracens Rugby T-shirt, signed by Saracens and Australia pro Will Skelton! To be in with a chance to win, head over to our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and follow the entry requirements! Go on, treat yourself!

From child soldier to Olympian!

Julius Achon speaking to Planet Sport's Tom Ellis at the 2018 CW Games. 

Planet Sport caught up with a Ugandan track legend, Julius Achon to hear about his amazing journey of facing adversity, pursuing his dreams and ultimately becoming an Olympian! 

Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "30 Aug: Julius Achon - from Child Soldier to Olympian, Part 1" on Spreaker.

"Everyone has potential but it's only unlocked through the hard work"

Ronnie Baker (pictured centre) has dominated this season's Diamond League circuit in the 100 metres, winning three out of four races with a sub-ten second time. Planet Sport's Norman Brierley caught up with the American on his rapid rise to the top level of world sprinting and asked how he views his success this season. 

Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:

Listen to "02 Aug: The new sprint sensation- USA's Ronnie Baker" on Spreaker.