Synopsis

Few activities in modern life can rival sport for creating excitement, passion and commitment. Arena takes a look at how the tensions and glories of sporting life are turned into prose by the sportswriter. Hugh Mcllvanney, many times winner of the Sportswriter of the Year Award, and the only sportswriter so far to be named Journalist of the Year, covers three major sporting events - a world title fight in Las Vegas, an England football international and the Cheltenham Gold Cup - and investigates the essence of good sports writing.