Centre Court, Wimbledon, 2008. The men’s final. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two titans of tennis at their zenith, are locked in an enthralling battle. But rain disrupts play, forcing a pause that hangs heavy with anticipation for the millions glued to their TV screens at home.
Then, the BBC cuts to a pre-recorded clip – Federer and Nadal, side-by-side, reciting Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem, If (1895). It was a masterstroke, highlighting the profound connection between the language of poetry and the drama unfolding on court.
Poetry and sport on TV may be the unlikeliest of teammates, but they’re often the perfect match. And during a summer of major sporting events this year – Euro 2024, Wimbledon and the Olympic and Paralympic Games – we can expect the two to appear on the same screens again, as poetry, new and old, helps broadcasters build-up to the big events.
Close ups, slo-mo montages, epic music, voice of God narrations, all carefully crafted to tip us over the edge in those nervy moments before the action reaches its climax.
Sport, like spoken-word poetry, is a communal activity. Poetry is read at gatherings like funerals, weddings and political inaugurations. Times when the right........