The language of the beautiful game

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In the latest World in Words podcast, it’s not just Brazil vs Spain at the World Cup. It’s Bafana Bafana vs Les Elephants, soccer vs football, cleats vs boots and the coach vs the gaffer. We have stories on the new adidas ball and its globally correct corporate name; on the race to rename streets in South African cities; and on the US-English confrontation off the field: the linguistic battle over soccer terminology. Download MP3

Celebrity couple crosses borders

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India and Pakistan are gripped with the news of a high-profile cross-border engagement. The families of Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Malik, and Indian tennis star, Sania Mirza, say the two will marry next month. Anchor Jeb Sharp gets the gossip from the BBC’s Rahul Tandon in Kolkatta, India.

Tiger Woods tries to get a grip…on physics?

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The fallout from Tiger Woods’ car accident continues. One of the stranger wrinkles in the tale can be seen at left. That’s Woods’ wrecked SUV, and that book on the floor is an out-of-print work entitled Get a Grip on Physics, by British professor John Gribbin. Global demand has spiked since the book was photographed in Woods’ SUV. Marco Werman hears from John Gribbin. Download MP3(Photo: Handout/Getty Images)

• Get a Grip on Physics on Amazon
• John Gribbin’s homepage
• Article on sales of the book in The Guardian newspaper

Ghana’s first skier off to the Olympics

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Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong was born in the Scottish city of Glasgow, but he grew up in Accra, Ghana. That never stopped him from dreaming of becoming a professional skier. He honed his skills on an artificial slope in Britain. And now, the “snow leopard” as he’s known will be Ghana’s one-man ski team next year at the Vancouver Winter Games. The World’s Alex Gallafent has the story. Download MP3(Audio available after 5PM Eastern)

• Video: The “Snow Leopard” in action
• Ghana Ski Team

Players: An interview with author Tim Harris

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Later today on the program, anchor Marco Werman speaks with author (and possible contender for world’s greatest sports nerd) Tim Harris. Harris has written a book called Players: 250 Men Women and Animals who Created Modern Sport. Amongst other things, he tells Marco about a vaudeville star who reinvented swimming and the man who worked out how best to jump over objects while riding a horse. Download MP3

• Who is your unsung sports hero?
• More information on the book
• Listen to Tim Harris on BBC Radio 4′s ‘Today’ program

US soccer blues

The World’s William Troop bemoans a tough loss for the US men’s national soccer team against Brazil, but muses that defeat may create more committed fans for US soccer.Listen

Lakers victory cheered in Spain

The Los Angeles Lakers have a growing fan base in Spain thanks to Spaniard and Laker’s forward Pau Gasol. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Raul Barrigon, managing editor of the Madrid-based basketball website “hoopshype,” about reaction in Spain to the Lakers’ NBA victory last night. Listen

Geo Quiz and answer for June 11, 2009

The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is the Portuguese island of Madeira. Its most famous son is soccer superstar Ronaldo. He’s just been acquired by the Spanish team Real Madrid for 131 million dollars. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets details from Forbes London bureau chief Parmy Olson. Listen

France’s convicts kick off cycle race

A Tour de France started this week in northern France. But it’s not the world famous event that happens every summer. This cycling race is called the PENAL Tour de France — and it’s for French prison inmates. The BBC’s Emma Jane Kirby has the story. Listen