Item in sports programme requiring level track, originally (5)
I believe the answer is:
event
'item in sports programme' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'level track originally' is the wordplay.
'level' becomes 'even' (similar in meaning).
'originally' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'track' is 't'.
'even'+'t'='EVENT'
'requiring' is the link.
(Other definitions for event that I've seen before include "Happening, noteworthy perhaps" , "Occurren" , "Planned public or social occasion" , "A notable occurrence or happening" , "special occasion" .)