Pennine
Productions -- details of
"After the Silver" |
![[first picture, if available]](images/amir_sparring_rico.jpg) |
| Network: |
Radio 4 |
Date: |
Thursday, February 03, 2005 |
Time: |
20:00 |
Duration: |
30 |
Presenter: |
Mark Whitaker |
Producer: |
Janet Graves |
Repeat date: |
|
Repeat time: |
|
Amir Khan sparring with 12-year-old Rico Young |
| |
Description:
|
Mike Jelley, the coach who discovered Amir, has agreed to let us have access to the club in this triumphant year. The club still gives lessons for a pound and still relies on donations raised at its annual boxing exhibition. But things are changing. The dramatic structure for the programme will be provided by the first boxing exhibition after the medal, held in April 2005. Usually Mike Jelley books a local community centre – this time for the first time – he’s thinking about holding it at Bolton’s giant football stadium, a tangible expression of what happened, after the silver. Two young boxers – a contemporary of Amir’s now boxing in his shadow – and a new young boxer – tempted by Amir’s success will also feature in the programme.
Bury Amateur Boxing Club was founded in the 1930’s and is the oldest in the country. As Amir tussles with the pros and cons of going professional, the real story is what is happening at the club. What are the social and physical benefits of boxing for these young people newly brought to boxing. As assistant coach Ian McGovern says of Amir “the big lesson is what a fine young gentleman he has become.”
Mike Jelley says that the skills of boxing are difficult, demanding co ordination and balance, but there are other social skills too and being in an environment where everyone is working hard has benefits for the young people.
This programme looks at the boxing club’s place in the community, and the silver medal’s impact nine months after Athens. British Asian’s represent 9% of the North West population – what have the lasting effects of the medal been for them. This programme takes the story forward from the Olympics to its climax at the exhibition – to capture the aftermath of the silver on a community and a sport which had fallen out of fashion.
|
 |
General view of main training room at Bury Amateur Boxing Club, with Amir Khan, left foreground. Circuit training equipment on left, punchbags on right. |
![[second picture, if available]](images/amir_training_GV.jpg) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Close-up of Amir Khan on the punchbags. |
![[third picture, if available]](images/amir_training_punchbags.jpg) |
Amir Khan enjoying a lighter moment during a break in training with coach and mentor, Mick Jelley the driving force behind the Bury Amateur Boxing Club |
![[fourth picture, if available]](images/amir_and_coach.jpg) |
|
![[fifth picture, if available]](images/) |
| |