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Sportshour: The Peace Marathon

Discussion & Talk

The Peace Marathon

11/11/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Sportshour, The Peace Marathon

May El Khalil woke from a coma with one goal, to create the Beirut Marathon.

On this week's Sporthour: Rugby's Ironman, why do US sports teams move cities and the surfer who wiped out on a 18 metre wave.

May El Khalil was running on the side of road, when she was knocked over and crushed by a truck. The accident caused her to slip into a coma. Once she woke, she lay in a hospital bed for two years and she devised a plan. She wanted to start a marathon in Beirut, Lebanon. The Middle Eastern country had never hosted an event like it due political and social unrest but May, despite the protests, was determined to get her idea over the line. After having 36 surgeries to make her walk again, she travelled the length of the country to promote the event. Since 2003, the event has been used to promote peace in a very unstable country. 

Rugby's Ironman
Fiji is one of the most physical rugby union teams in the whole world. But there will be one Italian who will be looking forward to lining up against the Fijians. Ian Mckinley could earn his first international cap, if he comes off the bench for the Azzurri. No professional wants to start as a substitute but for Ian it is an opportunity of a life time. Ian was blinded in one eye, after a stray boot caught him in the face. He now has to wear goggles, when he plays. Ian says he is looking forward to pulling on the blue shirt. 

Franchise Fraternisation 
Every summer and winter, the eyes of the football world turn to the transfer window, where players and occasionally coaches move between teams. There is one transfer in US sport that involves players, coaches, the fans and maybe even the cleaning staff. That is the transfer of a team to a new city. Recently, two NFL teams have moved to Los Angeles and the Oakland Raiders are set to move to Las Vegas. Will the constant movement of teams undermine the popularity of US leagues? We spoke to Raiders fan Ray Perez, Dave Cooley who helped move an NFL team to Tennessee and leading sports economist Rod Fort about the relocation. 

Total Wipeout
Andrew Cotton broke his back, after being crushed by a 60ft wave, while surfing in Portugal. We spoke to Andrew from his hospital bed. The Brit says he hopes to return to the waves soon for the summers surf and isn’t concerned that his total wipeout will hinder the possibility of getting new sponsors. 

Life is Full of Ups and Downs
South Africa's top trampoline star Bianca Zoonekynd was left homeless after her family residence in Port Elizabeth was burnt to the ground. Then, earlier this year, she was left with life-threatening injuries following a serious car crash. But Bianca, who is coached by her mum Mandy, is going for gold at the World Championships in Bulgaria this weekend, and she even has hopes of competing at the Tokyo Olympics in three years' time.

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