Transcripts For BBCNEWS Sportsday 20180215

Time for sportsday. Hello and welcome to sportsday. Im hugh woozencroft. Our main headlines this evening. Aksel lund svindal soars to success in south korea to become the oldest olympic Alpine Skiing champion. The Europa League is back with arsenal making a good start in their last 32 tie in sweden. And billy monger shows his bravery as a modified car increases his chances of a motor racing return, less than a year after after losing both his legs. Good evening. Lots in store but we start of course at the winter olympics, where there were nine medals upforgrabs. Both of britains mens and womens curling teams are in a good position to qualify from their round robin groups after wins on day six of the winter olympics. The men beatjapan, while the women snatched a sudden death victory against china. Holly hamilton has more. Downhill skiing is seen as the games marquee event, the showcase on the slopes. It is only fitting that this norwegian marked an iconic moment at the age of 35. He got glory as he became the oldest alpine champion in olympic history. He has got it at the womens giant slalom, some struggled on the slopes. And shes taken out the photographers no problems for this american sensation, at the age of 22 claiming her second olympic gold medal. Lightning quick and its unlikely to be her last at these games. For excitement, like no further than snowboard cross. It has as many frills as spills. The wacky races of winter sports. The defending champion avoided the dastardly antics behind him in a class of his own. Here it is. Hold your breath. A more sedate affair but no less tense, the curling. Which has been attracting the most unlikely of fans, including actor mr t, providing his own commentary on social media. He might have enjoyed the performance from the british men as their campaign continued with a narrow win overjapan. The Women Recovered from their first defeat at the hands of the usa to claim victory over china. Eve muirhead staying cool as ice in a nail biting clash that puts them on course for the group stages. Long way to go, but they will be hopeful for long way to go, but they will be hopefulfor a medal in long way to go, but they will be hopeful for a medal in the curling. Elsewhere in pyeongchang, britains dom parsons put himself in contention to win great britains first medal of the games at the halfway stage of the mens skeleton. He lies in fourth place going into tomorrows final runs. Earlier, i asked alex coomber who won skeleton bronze in salt lake in 2002 just how hell be able to grab a medal. Hes literally three hundredths of a second behind third. It is absolutely nothing. He is driving the track really well and making up so the track really well and making up so much time down the track. At the moment, hes losing on his start. If he can gain a better the start, he will make the break and get into the top three no problem. What will be going through his head sitting at the top of the course, thinking of the top of the course, thinking of the possibility of a medal . He wont think about it at all. Hell try to perfect everything as he goes down the track and bend by bend, carved by cars. Making no mistakes. Curve by curve. Hopefully his times will speakfor curve by curve. Hopefully his times will speak for themselves. The womens event will be beginning. People will be familiar with the gold medallist in sochi defending her title. She has not had the format years of preparation she would have hoped for. How will she approaches . It has been difficult for her. She has had a hard season and results would not be what she wanted. But ultimately, she has done really well and been up in the top three. She has had some of the fastest times. She has great mental strength and has the ability to bypass all troubles and hopefully just go out and do what you can do best. Could you bring home the gold medal again . Anyone in that field can because nothing is written in stone. What are the chances for one of these . A medal that may come in the womens skeleton. Canon law that these can laura dees do it . The womens skeleton. Canon law that these can laura dees do it . She doesnt have the same pressure. She has beaten these girls on other tracks around the world. She is a good starter and nice clean driver of the track. She is definitely in the mix. 0k, take time to reflect on elise christie. More disappointment in the 500 metres. She will have to pick yourself up. She has been speaking to bbc sport today. Lets listen to what she said. That night was pretty rubbish, but after that, the next day, i thought about everything i said before. It is out of my control. The video shows that my hand gets kicked. At 30 mph, anyone will follow far from that. I am mainly focused on the 1000 now. Obviously, i have a 1500 fast. I will see without undo and the thousand is the one going for gold for. Social media has been going crazy and you have what is of nice messages. I saw some of that earlier. Its been incredible. My two heroes, Jessica Ennis and kelly holmes, they treated me. They are both heroes to me for different reasons. It is amazing. It is great to see sportsmen and sportswomen, who understand sport, it is crazy and harsh at times but they have gone through this before and i can get through this and, bellerin. And get through the other end. How can she mentally pick herself back up . We saw her emotional she was previously. Tomorrow is another day and she has the opportunity of two more events. She has to be the last one behind her, focus, stay fresh and strong, and believes she can come out on top. She has come back from the trouble she had in sochi and is one of the main contenders for a medal. She has the strength ove 1120 m e for a medal. She has the strength overcome those problems. Alex coomber, joining azalea. Joining us earlier. Well have more on the winter paralympics to come later in the programme too. Now, after some real glamour ties over the past few days in the Champions League, tonight its the turn of the Europa League. Arsenal are already in action agianst swedish side ostersund. This one kicked off at 6pm. Arsene wengers side in complete control already. They lead through the natural monreal early goal. Just 12 minutes on the clock before more poor defending gifted arsenal a second. This time an own goal putting them to version zero up. So far, no problems with half time approaching. Arsenal already under way. Scottish champions celtic face a tough task at home to zenit St Petersburg this evening, in a five past eight kick off. Chris mclaughlin will be watching this one for us. Celtic under Brendan Rodgers are all about progression and in a european sense, it is alreadyjob done. Third place in the Champions League and progression to the Europa League is already one better than last year. But Brendan Rodgers believes that this zen it site under Roberto Mancini are the favourites to make. Celtic have injury concerns. In fa ct, celtic have injury concerns. In fact, a total of seven first team regulars, including leigh griffiths, missing out this evening. A very intriguing night in the cold and wet of the east end of glasgow. Also coming up in the programme. Thought to be the worlds oldest football match, the royal shrovetide game in ashbourne lasts for two days and youre lucky if you even see the ball. So while britains winter olympians are in the thick of competition in pyeongchang, their paralympic colleagues are getting ready to fly out to korea. Today, all the team got together for the official team launch in manchester and our reporter kate grey was there. Today has been the launch of the Paralympicsgb Team heading to pyeongchang in just a few weeks time. There was a fancy gala dinner taking place to send them on their way. Of their 17 athletes competing, and nowjoined way. Of their 17 athletes competing, and now joined by way. Of their 17 athletes competing, and nowjoined by four of them. Scott, for you, it will be the first time in 20 years that a british athlete will be competing in nordic skiing. How do you feel taking on that mantle and going into the games . I am proud to be trusted to carry the flag for the team and have the opportunity to showcase our sport and the British Public how awesome nordic is. Until we inspire more people in beijing 2022. Absolutely. You another one gone to your first absolutely. You another one gone to yourfirst games. Absolutely. You another one gone to your first games. Your competing absolutely. You another one gone to yourfirst games. Your competing in Alpine Skiing with your guide. You have had an amazing few weeks. Tell us have had an amazing few weeks. Tell us about what you have won. We have just come back from canada, where we had two downhill races. We won a gold and silver in each. That meant we we re gold and silver in each. That meant we were crowned the champions for the season. Amazing stuff. Pretty good going into yourfirst paralympic games. You are her guy. The other message for the people in the olympics because youll be going into the same village as them as a whole team. What would you like them to leave the village like . It is exciting that we are coming in to ta keover exciting that we are coming in to takeover the accommodation. If they would like to leave your autographs beside the bed, it would be nice to see is that we are taking over you have been doing this many times. This is just have been doing this many times. This isjust a parallel have been doing this many times. This is just a parallel this have been doing this many times. This isjust a parallel this is your third paralympic games. What advice do you have . Just enjoy it. Stop, pause, experience it and enjoy it. Take lots of pictures, keep a diary and just absorb all the atmosphere and really enjoy it. You will be competing as the skip for the curling team. In the olympics at the curling team. In the olympics at the moment, it has been gripping stuff. That is it for our athletes. All the action kicks off in pyeongchang on march the night. March nine. Hull kr meeting catalan dragons to night. Looking ahead to this match, our correspondent. This is an important game for both sides because both have lost the opening two games of the super league season. Less forcam rovers, newly promoted in the top flight. Rovers, newly promoted in the top flight. But it will be a worry for catalan, because they would expect to start looking up points at this stage of the season, having flirted with relegation last year. The big game will take place down under at 9am tomorrow morning. Leeds rhinos carrying the hopes of British Rugby League when they take on the melbourne storm in the world cup challenge. It is a big test for leeds. They played last week against hull kr and travelled the day after. They have to combat all that travel and get logged. Melbourne, nrl champions, and visibly favourites. Its 24 champions, and visibly favourites. Its 2a years since an english cob white penaranda its 2a years since an english cob white pena randa and its 2a years since an english cob white penaranda and won the world cup challenge. Melbourne have superstars in their ranks. If leeds can pull it off tomorrow, it will be a heck of an achievement. Commentary online for that game in the Rugby League World Club Challenge from mainly on the bbc sport website and happy. Former ibf world welterweight champion kell brook has admitted today hes suffered with depression since losing his world title and breaking his left eye socket in a bout against Errol Spencejr in may last year. Brook makes his comeback in a couple of weeks time against Sergey Rabchenko at sheffield arena. Brook had a public work out today in his home town at the crucible theatre, where he opened up about his recent struggles. Ive been feeling sorry for myself, not knowing how to cope because ive never been in that situation before. Sometimes, ive been lying in bed and not wanting to get out of bed all day. And not getting out of bed all day. And not getting out of bed all day. And not getting out of bed all day. Its been a bad depression through all this, albie honest with you. But i decided that i need boxing. To train, get my fitness, and now i have the buzz again. Everything is going splendid. Im better off not bottling it up and letting people know that it affected me badly, losing the world title. Im a born winner. When i lost, broke to eye sockets, my phone is not bringing any more. Im not world champion. None of these people wa nted champion. None of these people wanted to be my friend any more and im thinking, whats going on here . And sit on my own. I remember sitting in my house on my own thinking, whats happened . What happened . Going sorry for myself. I really needed to get my head wobble and the people close to me got me through it. And through it now. Im through it now. Its less than a year since billy monger lost both his legs in a motor racing accident at donington park. But the 18 year old is on the verge of returning to competition. Yesterday, he tested out a car thats been specially adapted for his disability. Chris slegg went to brands hatch to see him in action. Billy monger, back behind the wheel already in a car specially modified for him by his team. Its been com pletely for him by his team. Its been completely changed from how i normally drive. I have the throttle pedal here. I use that accelerate the car. I break with my right leg. I have a shorter prosthetic on. On my right side, two paddles. Big yea rs, my right side, two paddles. Big years, hand clutch at the side. In a race at donington last april, billy crashed into a stationary car at 120 mph. He had to have both legs amputated. A trade funding page set up amputated. A trade funding page set up to aid his recovery attracted donations from alexa bliss hamilton and jenson button. Just ten months on, billy is hoping to show that he is good enough for formula 3. Some people might think this is too soon to be racing again but youve not probably had a chance to process what youve been through. What would you say to them . To be honest, it has been the most calm place since the accident. To be behind the wheel of a racing car. Thats where ive wa nted of a racing car. Thats where ive wanted to be since my accident. To be back behind the wheel, i feel com pletely be back behind the wheel, i feel completely in control and relaxed out there. His mother be as mixed emotions about seeing her son back on the racetrack. I tell an everyday that it on the racetrack. I tell an everyday thatitis on the racetrack. I tell an everyday that it is not too changes mind. Joking about, because i know that in his heart, he has his heart set on it. Hes happy doing that and they have to be strong for him. Billy lobby dfid to allow disabled drivers to compete in races. His team are impressed by his time so far. He had a goal that 2018 would be the year he competes in formula 3. His mental attitude is strong. He is strong. Hes ready for this mentally and his race has been competitive. The more la ps race has been competitive. The more laps i do and the testing i do, the quicker ill get, hopefully. I will learn on every lap i do. If all goes well, billy monger will be on the starting grid when the formula 3 season begins in april. Inspirational character, billy monger. The royal shrovetide football match, believed to be the worlds oldest football game, has ended in a draw after two days play. Its been played in the derbyshire town of ashbourne on shrove tuesday and Ash Wednesday since at least the 12th century. The goal posts are three miles apart, the pitch is the whole town, and anyone can take sides and play. Every year, the upards, those born north of the river henmore which divides the town, take on the downards, which is anyone born south of the river. They took an early lead in this years chaos, but the upards fought back on day two to level the match. Theyre unbeaten since 2010. That was an incredible result. Two goals already in the arsenal game in the Europa League. 2 0 up at half time. You can follow everything on the bbc sport website. Celtic playing zenit St Petersburg later. That is at five past eight. We will have more sport throughout the evening. It is just it isjust coming up it is just coming up to ten minutes to seven. President trump said making schools safer will be a top priority. That is after the gun attack yesterday in florida where 17 people died and dozens were injured. Police say the teenage gunman was equipped with a gas mask and several magazines of ammunition. Nikolas cruz was a former pupil at the school and has been charged with 17 cou nts school and has been charged with 17 counts of order. The former governor attended a press conference near where the shooting happened. The Florida Governor at ending. We wa nt we want to make sure this never happens again. Next week in tallahassee, i will sit down with state leaders. We will have a real conversation about two things. How do we make sure when a parent is ready to send their child to school that the pain it knows their child will be safe . Number two, how do we make sure individuals with mental