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)
Presidential diamonds and Tupperware parties
Dinosaur discoveries and a Berlin Wall treehouse
West African food and computer viruses
Wartime surrenders and the birth of Barbie
Five great inventions that changed the world
Tourism arrives in the Maldives and a royal night out
South Korea store collapse and Lady Gaga's meat dress
Somalia's civil war and golf on the moon
Amazing photographs and the people who took them
Inuit children taken from families and Le Mans crash
Scaling Everest, the highest mountain in the world
Bosnian concentration camp photo and hero clown
Singapore executes Filipina maid and German child evacuees of World War Two
World War Two African victory and 'Kai Tak heart attack'
The 'Stone of Destiny' and a self-proclaimed Emperor
Artist Althea McNish and history of the Met Gala
The history of dogs
Unearthing World War II mass graves and the Boston bombing
Escaping Eritrea and inventing Zumba
The godfather of manicures and India's Silicon Valley
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