Eric Liddell Running the race from Piccadilly to Beijing!

Thanks for visiting our blog, we hope you will drop by during our trip to the Beijing Olympic Games and find our daily activities of interest.
Needless to say John and myself are looking forward to it…work of course!!

Photo: Pete and Sebastian Coe (Chairman of London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games)

The right book in the right place at the right time, with the right connections!!

The potential for John Keddie’s new title has always had the possibility to open doors, and so it has proved.
(Lord) Sebastian Coe’s foreword sets the scene for the broad appeal that the Legacy of Eric Liddell still attracts, a great ambassador for sport as a Gold medal Olympian and a man who’s faith was and still is evident for all to see in Running the race.

Photo: Lord Coe and author John Keddie

Following the launch in Waterstones Piccadilly (London) by author John Keddie and Sebastian Coe, we were delighted to hear that the Chinese authorities had given the go ahead to print and distribute a Chinese translation.

With the 2008 Beijing games approaching we quickly put an itinerary together to promote both the English and Chinese versions in the land of Eric Liddell’s birth:

A photo-call has been arranged with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has kindly agreed to meet with us in conjunction with the British Olympic Association.
Depending on itinerary Seb Coe and Colin Moynihan may also join us.

Simon Clegg, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association has given us the opportunity to have copies of Running the race available to the GB athletes in Beijng. The books travelled ahead of us with the BOA.

The Weifang Foreign Affairs Department have graciously invited us to visit with them and guide us to the site of the Internment camp and memorial to Eric Liddell raised by Edinburgh University.

Visit to Tianjin – we hope to visit the school where Eric taught and Min Yuan Stadium; apparently Eric Liddell had some hand in the design. (based on Chelsea Football Club Stadium)

Tianjin TV in China will cover our story in Beijing

BBC Sport will be filming a feature with John Keddie about Eric Liddell and Running the race, to be aired I understand to coincide with 400 metres final (Eric Liddell’s event)

We have had significant coverage from UK and World media:

Nick Mulveeney – Reuters
Brendan Gallager – Double page spread in Daily Telegraph
Book of the week in the Independent
Coverage on Scottish TV
Featured on Breakfast programme on Premier Radio
Doug Gillon – The Herald
Multiple Christian Publications

Don’t worry our future posts to the blog will not be as long!...just wanted to set the scene.

Next post from Beijing! D.V.

Pete