Songs of Praise

Faith and Sport (2020x31)

Air date: Aug 05, 2020

Aled Jones visits the London Stadium to explore the links between Christianity and sport and looks back at the unforgettable moments of the 2012 Olympic Games that took place in the stadium. Paralympian Stef Reid takes Aled to the spot where she won silver in the 2012 games and gold in the 2017 World Championships. She tells Aled about the moment her life was changed for ever after a boating accident when she was just 15 and how her desperate cries to God in those times led to a deep Christian faith. Aled also meets Graham Daniels, a former professional footballer who is now the director of Christians in Sport. In the stadium, Graham reflects with Aled on the great memories of London 2012 and – in this summer when so many iconic competitions have had to be postponed – he explores why we love sport so much. Graham reveals how he works in the background at many major sporting events, supporting elite athletes as they strive to live out their Christian faith and their vocation as a sportsperson. JB Gill joins a training session at Watford Football Club to meet goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. He tells JB about growing up in poverty in Brazil and how his strong Christian faith is now leading him to swap the Premier League for the pulpit as he trains to become a pastor. And we hear how smaller football clubs are being effected by the current pandemic – we visit Cambridge United to hear about its Christian roots and how the club's unique role in the local community is helping it through this challenging times. With hymns old and new from across the UK, including some that have become favourites at great sporting occasions.