"The stage was set for a historic contest. Eight thousand spectators crammed into a 6000-seat stadium. The Russians were booed and whistled at on every touch of the ball. The crowd chanted 'Hajrá Magyarok!' (Go Hungary!). Apart from the atmosphere, the conditions for the two countries were fair and equal. The Hungarian players knew, by beating the Soviet Union, they would give a massive lift to all Hungarians..."
Writer Bernadett Buda tells the story of the infamous 'Blood in the Water' water polo semi-final between Hungary and the Soviet Union that took place at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, weeks after Soviet tanks had crushed the short-lived Hungarian Revolution.
From Sunday Miscellany, Sunday mornings, 9.10am, RTÉ Radio 1: listen back here
