A cross-country relay run kicks off in Weifang on July 7th in memory of an English hero, Eric H. Liddell—A British Olympic champion who devoted his life to world peace.
On the afternoon of July 6th, “Mountains and Seas in Stride, Peaceward We Glide” Relay Run was launched at the Weihsien Concentration Camp, Weifang City, Shandong Province. Eric H. Liddell was a Scotsman born in Tianjin. His Chinese name was Li Airui, also known as Li Da. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh. In the 19th century, when his parents came to China to preach, they settled in Tianjin.
During the three years in the camp, Liddell helped other prisoners to learn, took care of others, and organized various sports activities. Thus, he earned respect from other imprisoned civilians. Because of the miserable life, malnutrition, and no effective treatments, Eric H. Liddell died of a brain tumor on February 21, 1945, at the age of 43. Just 175 days later, Japan surrendered.
Eric won the 400-meter sprint at the 1924 Olympic Games. After the Games, he returned to China and worked as a teacher in a middle school in Tianjin for nearly 20 years.
In the coming week, 11 representatives from Eltham College in London, UK, will participate in relay running activities alongside Chinese runners from Weifang and Tianjin. 80 years ago, after the outbreak of the Pacific War during World War II, the Japanese Army occupied the Courtyard of the Happy Way in Weihsien County, Shandong Province, China, and set up a concentration camp for foreigners.
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