Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service. We hear about the famous ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb.
In 2003, the venue won its bid to host the Winter Olympic Games for the first time. Hugh Smythe, known as one of the ‘founding fathers’ of Whistler, has been sharing his memories of the mountain. We also have former Winter Olympian and BBC presenter, Chemmy Alcott, to walk us through the long history of skiing.
Plus, how the tiny island nation of American Samoa suffered the worst defeat ever in international football.
Also, the shocking creation of a two-headed dog by a Soviet scientist.
The murder of transgender woman in Honduras during a military coup in 2009.
And, a long-running dispute over the final resting place of Christopher Columbus’ ashes.
Contributors: Hugh Smythe — One of the ‘founding fathers’ of Whistler.
Chemmy Alcott — Former Winter Olympian and TV presenter.
Nicky Salapu—American Samoa goalkeeper.
Igor Konstantinov — Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon.
Claudia Spelman — LGBT activist.
Angelita Baeyens — Human rights lawyer.
Samuel Bisono — Tour guide and historian.
(Photo: Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Credit: James MacDonald/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The first lesbian couple to get married and World Laughter Day
Hindenburg disaster and wingsuits
Pad Thai, kiwis and the chef Ken Hom
Tsunamis and Caster Semenya
Mandela's funeral and Tsar's reburial
Doom and Danish brains
Saving animals from extinction and Cabbage Patch Kids
Zambia celebrates independence and the invention of bubble tea
The Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in Iceland and EpiPen invention
Pakistani popstars, and the hippo and the tortoise
Che Guevara's daughter and marrying Freddie Mercury
Gezi Park protests and MAD hijack
Osmondmania! and the launch of Lagos Fashion Week
The creation of Ghana's flag and the oldest person at primary school
Marking 50 years since the 1973 global oil crisis
The Lampedusa disaster and cat cafes
Nazi eugenics and the year of the vuvuzela
Israeli and Palestinian history
The Chilean coup and Zanzibar’s most famous singer
Historic Korean summit and goat island
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