(July 1, 2015)  Wimbledon—it’s a highlight of the British sporting calendar. Each player is out to try to win the trophy. Every point, game, set and match is part of the journey.

On the morning of Sunday, June 28—the day before the tennis tournament began—16 commercial radio stations across England aired a five-minute feature produced by Reach Beyond-UK’s radio team in Bradford.

The program celebrated Wimbledon and took an enlightening and entertaining look at the graft and process of training for and playing top-level tennis as well the journey toward winning a tournament.

“It related this elite process to our own more ordinary lives,” said program producer Bruce Gulland. “Wimbledon players compete with purpose: to win the trophy. People live with a variety of views about the purpose and meaning—or lack of it—in life.”

“Is a Wimbledon tournament actually quite a good metaphor for what a life well-lived can be like?” Gulland questioned. “We can’t all be tennis stars, but we’re all playing in the tournament of life. Each of us can potentially win a much more important kind of trophy—the gift of grace and eternal life in Christ.”

The radio broadcast was heard by an estimated 80,000 listeners across the UKRD radio network. It included interviews with an up-and-coming British tennis player (Conor Tordoff), a sports chaplain (Carolyn Skinner) and a number of tennis fans. It also featured popular songs that fit the sporting theme.

Listen to the program below:




Photo Credit: Carine06

Source: Reach Beyond-UK