大象传媒

We take an in-depth look at the issues surrounding the upcoming college football season after two of the game's major conferences - the Pac-12 and Big Ten - announced they won鈥檛 play this Autumn due to concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic. Super Bowl winner and former University of Notre Dame player Rocky Boiman believes the season should go ahead, telling us 鈥淚f anybody is looking for a 100% safe environment in this world, anywhere, you鈥檙e not going to get it. It does not exist鈥�. He also believes a lack of football could cost some players a shot at the NFL draft and adds he鈥檚 now resigned to all college football being cancelled in the coming weeks.

Hunter Reynolds plays for the University of Michigan and is part of the #BigTenUnited movement. He won鈥檛 be playing following the postponement of the Big Ten. He tells us some players he鈥檚 spoken to are worried their coaches may be prepared to risk putting winning above safety.

Broadcaster Mike Carlson also joins us and he believes the stand-off around the college football season could become an issue in the US Presidential campaign.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an elite, unique, group to be in鈥� - Marcel Eckardt joins us ahead of taking charge of the World Snooker Championship final. At thirty years of age, Eckardt will be the youngest person ever to referee the most prestigious match in the sport. He鈥檚 also the first German to do it. He tells us what the occasion means to him, how he got into the sport, his love of Pool and why he turned down the chance to have his family at The Crucible Theatre for his big moment.

Broadcaster Rikki Swannell joins us with the latest from New Zealand after the final round of the regular season in Netball鈥檚 ANZ Premiership was cancelled due to concerns around Covid-19. All of this week鈥檚 games have been declared a draw. Swannell tells us how likely it is that next weekend鈥檚 finals series will be played.

This week鈥檚 Sporting Witness takes us back to the Beijing Olympics of 2008, when weightlifter Matthias Steiner created one of the most emotional moments of the games. His wife was killed in a car accident shortly before the games began and he dedicated his gold medal to her.

And 鈥� we check in on the second test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton with World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent

Photo credit: Michigan Stadium, where the University of Michigan college football team play their home matches (Getty Images).