|
As the Olympic flame is handed over to London’s mayor, Chinese Christians are keenly devouring a biography of a British Olympian who moved to China as a missionary following his athletic career.
The book, published by Evangelical Press and entitled “Running the Race”, tells the story of Eric Liddell, who was the last British man to win gold in the Olympic 400m men’s final in 1924. Born in China to Scottish missionaries, Liddell is considered a hero in China, and his story has once again been brought to light in the context of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He was a devoted Christian and his faith motivated him to use his talents well.
But Liddell is not the only example of a Christian excelling in sport. Today there are Christian athletes competing at the highest level, and many Christians who are reaching out to people through the medium of sport. Christians in Sport has been active at the Olympic Games recently – in the 2000 Sydney Games they hosted athlete families and distributed sports outreach resources, among other things.
More Than Gold is the charity representing the Churches in the UK for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games, and has plans to mobilise volunteers from churches to reach out to athletes.
Minister of Sport Tessa Jowell MP, who recently visited Liddell’s grave while in China, said about More than Gold, “"I thank and congratulate the churches on coming together in support of Olympic and sporting values once more.”
About the London 2012 Olympics, the Christians in Sport website says, “We want to see a great celebration of sport because, as Christians, we believe that sport and our ability to participate and enjoy it is part of God's creation.”
|
The story of Eric Liddell
Telegraph: Eric Liddell, the lost Olympian
Reuters: Chariots of Fire's Liddell, a Chinese hero?
Daily Mirror: Oliver Holt pays tribute to Beijing hero
Evening Standard: Gunboats and God - the British gift to China
Times Credo: Time and chance in the hurdle race of human life
Christian Today: Evangelical Press 'Running the Race' at Olympics with Eric Liddell biography
Christians, the Olympics and Sport
London 2012
|
