LONDON - A Scottish Olympic champion who spent his life training young Chinese athletes is commemorated through a photographic exhibition organised by the Tianjin Municipal Government in the City of London this week.

Opening ceremony of Eric Liddell and Tianjin photo exhibition. (Left to right) Qin Gang, Deputy Head of Mission, Chinese Embassy in the UK, Nicola Roche, of the British Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sports, Gong Jiansheng, of Tianjin Municipal Government, and Hua Tian (Alex), Chinese equestrian sportsman [Photo Provided to China Daily]

Eric Liddell was born in Tianjin in 1902 as the son of Scots missionaries. He received education in Britain since the age of five and his athletic strength emerged during his high school and university years.

In 1924, Liddell won the gold medal in 400 metres at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris with a record-breaking score. This success formed the basis of the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots of Fire', but the untold tales since Liddell's return to his beloved birthplace Tianjin in 1925 were equally legendary.

"Eric Liddell returned to China and bought with him his Olympic ideals. Three years ago, the 29th Olympic Games were successfully held in Beijing, signifying the century long Olympic dream of the Chinese people," Gong Jiansheng, of the Tianjin Municipal Government, said at the exhibition’s opening ceremony yesterday.

More than 100 pictures are on display, tracing the life of Liddell from his outstanding athletic talent to his profound love for China. Alongside the black and white photographs of Liddell's time are about 30 modern photographs showing the latest economic and social developments of Tianjin.

"Eric Liddell is a symbol of friendship between China and Britain. His legendary life was a memorable testimony to the deep bonds between our peoples," said Qin Gang, deputy head of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

Nicola Roche, of the British government's Department of Culture, Media and Sports, welcomed the exhibition and said that she was lucky to visit Liddell's birthplace in 2008. "I went to the house where Eric Liddell lived, and got a real sense of how much his life meant for the Chinese people."

The opening ceremony was also attended by Chinese equestrian sportsman Hua Tian (Alex).

Liddell remained to work in China until his death in a Japanese internment camp in 1945. He had the chance to leave the camp through a special arrangement made by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, but switched papers to help a pregnant woman to leave instead.

There are many stories about Liddell in China. For example, Liddell cycled 20 miles over rough terrain in Tianjin to save the lives of two Chinese wounded soldiers during the Japanese invasion of China. 'Running the Race', a biography of Liddell by Rev. John W. Keddie was published in Chinese in 2008.

The photo exhibition will be available for public viewing on Oct 2 and Oct 4, 2011 at the Pewterers' Hall, Oat Lane, London, EC2V 7DE, from 9am – 4pm.