Talking Sport - 90 Years of Commentary
Icelandic commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson marks the 90th anniversary of the 大象传媒鈥檚 first radio football commentary in 1927.
It is 90 years since the first 大象传媒 football commentary on radio from a wooden hut in Highbury, England. It brought sports to a much bigger audience and revolutionised overnight our relationship with our favourite games. Nine decades on and sports commentary is a multi-billion dollar business.
Icelandic commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson tells the story of how sports commentary developed in different parts of the world. Gudmundur, whose excitement over a late goal by Iceland against Austria at Euro 2016 sent his own commentary viral, hears from a variety of commentators and experts as he charts the history of commentating.
The first football commentary of the match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at Highbury in January 1927 pioneered the use of two commentators, one providing a running commentary of the action, the other calling out grid references. It was a huge innovation.
Gudmundur will look at how sports commentary developed in different parts of the world and how commentators went on to become part of the sporting experience themselves, often loved and loathed in equal measure - their personalities bringing a new identity to some sports.
With the help of fellow commentators, Gudmundur will also examine the skill involved in taking to the commentary box for different sports. How does football commentating differ from horse racing commentary for example? Of course commentators are only human - and Gudmundur hears about some of those embarrassing moments too, when the gaffes and hysterics became almost as memorable as the games themselves.
(Photo: Gudmundur Benediktsson. Credit: Daniel Runarsson)
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- Sun 22 Jan 2017 03:06GMT大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
- Sun 22 Jan 2017 14:06GMT大象传媒 World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Wed 25 Jan 2017 09:06GMT大象传媒 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & News Internet
- Wed 25 Jan 2017 12:06GMT大象传媒 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Wed 25 Jan 2017 23:06GMT大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
- Thu 26 Jan 2017 02:06GMT大象传媒 World Service Australasia