In Celebration of the Paris Olympic Games—Past and Present

Paris is one of two cities to host the Olympics three times. (Can you name the other? Answer at the bottom). As we make way for the the pomp, circumstance, competition, medal count and the trivia that only comes every four years with the summer games. I can't help think about this same event in the same locale—a century prior. How? Why? The movie Chariots of Fire features the Games of the VIII Olympiad in the City of Lights, and one of its heroes, is my hero, too.

Chariots of Fire is one of four sports movies to have won the Oscar for Best Film. (Can you name the other three? Answer at the bottom). Historians verify what the 1981 award winning film underscored: politics have never been in the background. Five years after WWI ended, fascism was rising. In the 1924 Olympics, there was a pressing sentiment to represent one's country with aplomb and in doing so, it's values as well. 

Eric Liddell, a runner, devout Christian, and Scot was told by the British selection committee: "King first, then God." However, this is not why Liddell (or his teammate Harold Abrahams) ran. What he sought to prove, who he desired to represent  was King of Kings—Jesus of Nazareth, Christ the Lord. Liddell's example is worth considering as we hear the stories and learn the motivation of many other athletes in the next 17 days. 

As written on IMDB

Chariots of Fire is the true story of two British track athletes competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics. One is a devout Scottish missionary who runs for God, the other is a Jewish student at Cambridge who runs for fame and to escape prejudice.

Told in flashback, Chariots of Fire features the British sprinters as rivals and later as friends. In a warm-up 100-meter race, Liddell defeats Abrahams, who hires a pro trainer to prepare him. Liddell, whose qualifying heat is scheduled for a Sunday, refuses to run despite pressure from the Olympic committee. A compromise is reached when a nobleman allows him to compete in his 400-meter slot. Liddell and Abrahams win their respective races and go on to achieve fame as missionary and businessman/athletic advocate, respectively.

As the story proclaims, Liddell sought to honor God by observing His commands. He did not compete on the Christian Sabbath. The trials took place on a Sunday. Therefore, instead of running in his best race, he ran the qualifier for the 400 m and in Paris—and, he won (in 47.6 seconds). The BBC Scotland website says that, "Without doubt one of Scotland’s greatest sporting heroes, Eric Liddell, owes much of his fame more to a race he didn’t run than any he did."

In the article "Running for God," Lucy Russell writes, "Liddell lived out the Gospel values; using the talents God had given him. He was motivated in all areas of his life, including his sport, to honor and glorify Christ. The point is that when we use our talents to serve and glorify God, we share with him a sense of pleasure and fulfillment. There is certain mutuality here, blessed with the talents God has given us, we have the opportunity to achieve something with him: Them that honor me, I will honor. (1 Samuel 2:30)."

These are the stories of Sports and Spirituality. What motivates an Olympian beyond the gold medal? Beyond athletic training, how might they seek to manifest the motto of the games: Citius - Altius - Fortius. (words that mean Faster - Higher - Stronger). Liddell offers his own testimony. When the daily coverage comes to a close, take a moment to watch/revisit this scene. It is seminal to Sports and Spirituality. 

Or, offer this prayer:

I'd like to compare faith to running in a race.

It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul.
A runner experiences elation when the winner breaks the tape! But how long does that last?
Life will present its challenges. Who am I to say "believe, have faith?!"
I can only point the way. Why? 

Everyone runs in their own way.
Where does the power come from to see the race to the end? From within.
Jesus said "Behold the Kingdom of God is within you. Seek me and ye shall find."

Let us pray the Our Father.

Enjoy the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad

Trivia Answers:

1. London
2. Million Dollar Baby, Rocky, Gladiator*

Photo Credits
Rings: (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Liddell