Leading Olympians to be recognised for outstanding character

Leading Olympians will be recognised for their outstanding character at a unique event during the London 2012 Games. The setting is the first More Than Gold Legacy Breakfast, an event established to ‘honour character and influence in the world of sport’.

The Legacy Breakfast takes place on Friday, 10 August at London’s Westminster Central Hall. The centre piece is the presentation of the Eric Liddell Award to one male and one female Olympian for their outstanding character at home, in their community and on and off the field of competition.

Six finalists for the award were announced today :

Bryan Clay, United States, Olympic decathlon gold and silver medalist
Steph Cook, Great Britain, Olympic modern pentathlon gold medalist
Debbie Flood, Great Britain, twice Olympic rowing silver medalist
Brandon Slay, United States, Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist
Laura Wilkinson, United States, Olympic diving gold medalist
Nick Willis, New Zealand, Olympic track and field silver medalist

The 400 present are expected to include up to 120 past and present Olympians. Those attending will also hear from special guests Jerry Colangelo, chairman of USA Basketball; Madeline Manning Mims, Olympic gold medalist in track and field; and Gene Davis, Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling. Additional guests will be announced as the event approaches.

The Eric Liddell Award has been established in memory of Olympian Eric Liddell, who won gold and bronze medals for Great Britain at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Liddell is best known for the portrayal of his Olympic experience in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. Two of his three daughters, Heather Ingham and Patricia Russell, will attend the breakfast to celebrate their father’s legacy of character and service.

Hosting the Legacy Breakfast is Athletes in Action, an international sports outreach that uses the medium of sport to help people answer questions of faith. It is in partnership with More Than Gold, the agency set up by all the UK’s main denominations to help churches make the most of the 2012 Games.

Athletes in Action regularly host similar breakfasts as a way to highlight character and faith. This includes the NFL-sanctioned Super Bowl Breakfast, which they have hosted annually since 1988.

More information about the More Than Gold Legacy Breakfast is available at www.legacybreakfast.org