ALI MOVIE ...
I Am Ali has tough acts to follow. Muhammad Ali is already the subject of one of boxing’s best documentaries, 1996’s When We Were Kings, and innumerable biopics including one in which he played himself, The Greatest. Fortunately I Am Ali (on general release, out now) does so admirably. Although there are no revelations, there is a huge amount of previously unused archive material, most particularly audio recordings he made with his family, from which an intimate and personal picture of Ali emerges, in his own words. It is a well-made, well-researched picture that tells his story with skill. The fighter’s wit and intelligence shine through and go a long way to explaining why he remains so admired and why film-makers are still so drawn to him.
WAR REMEMBRANCE ...
The BBC begins a series of events remembering the Christmas Truce of 1914 with a look at the reality of the events that saw several football matches played on the frontline 100 years ago, in World War One’s Christmas Truce (Thursday, 5 Live, 9pm). The domestic game also recognises the anniversary next weekend with the Premier League, Championship and FA Cup games having all 22 players pose, before kick-off, for a group picture in remembrance as part of Football Remembers Week. The most famous of these impromptu internationals took place at St Yvon in southern Belgium, eight miles south of Ypres, near the Walloon village of Ploegsteert - “Plugstreet” to tommies - and Uefa will unveil a monument there on Thursday 11 December. It precedes a series of events around the centenary of the Christmas 1914 at Plugstreet, including a full re-creation of the trenches and the game itself on 19-21 December, all of which is open to the public, details: belgiumtheplaceto.be.
WORLD CUP DRAW ...
Handed a sharp lesson in the top end of the women’s game by Germany at Wembley last week, England will discover who they face at the World Cup in Canada next year when the draw takes place on Saturday (Eurosport, 5pm). That 3-0 defeat to the European champions aside, England are still a good side. They won every game in the qualifying round, scored 52 goals and Karen Carney, who reached her 100th cap against Germany, believes the team are still improving.
MOTOR RACING AWARDS ...
The FIA holds its annual gongshow on Friday to honour drivers from across racing disciplines. Personality of the year, on occasion a woeful misnomer, is less so this year with the shortlist of 10 including Lewis Hamilton and nine-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen. Fans can vote now for the rather clumsily-named “action of the year” from 10 moments at the fia.com. It all, of course, takes place in that well-known home of motorsport, Doha. Back in the real heartland, this month’s Black + White Photography magazine features a glorious set of mono shots from the Nürburgring 24, shot by and telling the story of Lara Platman, one of the few women motor racing snappers and a driver herself.
WIMBLEDON TICKETS ...
Often lost amid the Christmas rush, the chance to enter the ballot for tickets to next year’s Wimbledon is coming to a close. It is the last two weeks now, as applications forms must be obtained by the 15 December and returned by the 31st; details at wimbledon.com.
