The British Embassy in Ireland (11 July) hosted a special screening of the Oscar-winning 1981 British film, 'Chariots of Fire' in Dublin's Stella Cinema, itself a classic of the 1920s.
The event was held to mark the 2024 Paris Olympics, given the film climaxes with the 1924 Paris Games. The screening was also held to celebrate the centenary of Ireland's first participation in the Olympics as a separate team and independent nation. Over 100 guests from the worlds of film, sport, culture and politics attended. The film was preceded by a discussion with the film's producer David Puttnam and the Irish former European athletics champion and now RTÉ Sports presenter David Gillick.
Speaking about the event, the British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston said:
This special screening of Chariots of Fire is special in so many ways. First, it's a wonderful film. I've seen it many times and it still reduces me to tears. Plus, 11 July 2024 marks the 100th anniversary to the day of Eric Liddell's world record victory in the Paris Olympics 400m, the climax of David Puttnam's Oscar-winning film. This year marks a century of Ireland's Olympic involvement, dating back to the original Paris games two years after independence. 100 years on, and just a few days ahead of the 33rd modern Olympiad, we send our very best wishes to Team GB and Team Ireland.
Speaking about his iconic film, in the year of Olympic anniversaries, Lord Puttnam:
This month marks the centenary of Eric Liddell's extraordinary victory in the 400 metres at the Paris Olympic Games - creating a legend that I and my colleagues were fortunate enough to be able to memorialise on screen. Eric's life has become universally acknowledged as an outstanding example of the power of commitment to the things you believe in - for forty years audiences around the world have been moved by the exploits of Eric Liddle, Harold Abrahams and their Olympian colleagues. Few have created such a lasting legacy.
Describing how the film inspired his Olympic dreams, David Gillick said:
I'm delighted to be invited along to this special screening of this special film. I can still remember the first time I watched it and being inspired by the Olympic Games. The theme tune still gives me goosebumps today and I will never forget when it rang out over the PA system when I was 10 years old competing at the community games here in Dublin.
Paris 2024 marks two significant anniversaries - the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell's world record victory in the Paris Olympics 400m, of which David Puttman's film is centered on and also the centenary of Team Ireland competing at the Olympic games as a sovereign nation.
As someone who trained and chased the Olympic dream from a UK base, I know the importance the close relationship between both nations plays in the world of sport.
