Eric Liddell - A Life Inspired
This section of our web site has been designed to help you find out
more about the life and work of Eric Liddell.
Contents
- A
short biography of Eric Liddell
- Photographs of Eric Liddell
- Eric Liddell's Edinburgh
- Video
of Eric Liddell Winning Gold at the 1924 Olympics
- Recollections
of Eric Liddell by People who knew him
- Press cuttings about Eric Liddell
- Athletics memorabilia belonging to Eric Liddell
- Chinese
artefacts belonging to Eric Liddell
- Other
Videos about Eric Liddell
- Eric
Liddell's Rugby Career
- A
list of books about Eric Liddell
- A
list of films
and videos about Eric Liddell
- Some
personal
correspondence of Eric Liddell
Introduction
We hope that as you read through the range of
information and stories about Eric that you will really enjoy
the experience. As you explore Eric’s life you will find a man who was
and continues to be a superb example of someone who lived out the
Olympic ideals while  upholding the
Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” which means, ‘Swifter, Higher,
Stronger’, throughout his life.
The first Olympic Games are reputed to have taken place on the fields
of Olympia in 776 B.C when Hercules challenged his four brothers to
race before the gods of Ancient Greece. From this point on they were
held every four years for nearly 1,200 years. People and scholars
travelled from all over the ancient world to attend the games and while
they were happening there was peace throughout Greece. This was
referred to as the “Olympic Peace”. These ancient games were ended by
the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 393 A.D.
In 1870, German archaeologists excavated some wonderful statues that
had been sculpted and set in the sacred ground of Olympia in the time
of the classical games. These finds so inspired Baron Pierre
De Coubertin that he decided to revive the games. This idea was very
well received and the first of the Modern Olympics took place in Athens
two years later commencing 6th April 1896.
The olive branch, which was the highest prize and honour awarded to the
young athletes of the classical games, was replaced by gold, silver and
bronze medals. The original Olympic ideals of noble competition, sport,
peace, culture and education remain at the heart of the games. It was
hoped the sportsmen (and latterly, women), who participated in the
games would live lives that demonstrated these ideals all of the time.
On its website the International Olympic Committee, writing about the
Olympic Movement states,
“It is a philosophy of
life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body,
will and mind.”
It goes on to say,
“The goal of the Olympic
Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by
educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any
kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
 At the 1924 Paris
Olympics, when the motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” was first used, Eric
Liddell won a bronze medal in the 200m and then even greater glory by
winning gold in the 400m. Eric went on, however, to embody the Olympic
ideals by the way that he lived his life.
You will read all about him:
- Shaking hands with other competitors prior to
races.
- Coming alongside competitors who were being
shunned because they were different.
- Teaching children in school.
- Acting as a coach or a referee.
- Working with very poor people.
- Rescuing victims of war.
At the core of his life Eric believed that God was his saviour, friend
and companion and that everything he did should give God pleasure. As a
runner he was the fastest and had achieved the highest glory, and as a
Christian he found that his greatest strength came from God. It was
because of this strength that he was able:
- to be parted from his family for long periods
of time.
- to smuggle money to Chinese people who were
living in parts of China occupied by the Japanese army.
- to teach people about “loving your enemy” while
they were all imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp.
We hope that you enjoy reading about Eric and that you will find his
life inspiring.
As we all look towards the London Olympics in 2012 it is our hope and
prayer that young people throughout the world will find
inspiration, friendship and peace running hand in hand.
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