The exhibition “Eric Liddell & Weifang” was held in Edinburgh, UK, on August 22, 2024. The event took place at the Eric Liddell Community and was supported by several organizations, including the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Edinburgh, the Office of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Weifang Government, the Weifang Department of Culture and Tourism, the Weifang Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, and the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication at Heriot-Watt University.
Weihsien Concentration Camp truly recorded the brutal acts of Japanese militarism. At the same time, it also symbolized the just struggle and internationalism spirit of Western expatriates and Chinese people united against Japanese fascists during World War II. Eric Liddell spent the last years of his life in the Weihsien Concentration Camp. At the Weihsien Concentration Camp, he was elected the chairman of the recreation group and responsible for organizing sports activities in the camp. He also took care of the children in the camp and teaching them chemistry. With his resilience, faith, and compassion, Eric Liddell brought hope and strength to his fellow internees, earning deep respect from the expatriate community. Eric Liddell’s experience in the Weihsien Concentration Camp made him an indissociably bond with Weifang. The people of Weifang never forgot this great Olympic Champion and held many commemorative activities.
In 1991, the Eric Liddell Memorial Foundation (headquartered in Hong Kong) held the unveiling ceremony of the “Liddell Sports Ground” and monument in Weifang No. 2 Middle School (now Guangwen Middle School). In 2015, Liddell’s eldest daughter and second daughter came to Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum to unveil a memorial sculpture of Eric Liddell; On May 31, 2024, Weifang, as the only invited city, sent the municipal leader (Vice Mayor Di Bo) to attend the commemoration of Eric Liddell held by the British Embassy in Beijing; On June 21, the Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh held a memorial reception for Eric Liddell at the Eric Liddell Community. Di Bo, Vice Mayor of Weifang City, delivered a video speech.
2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell’s Olympic Championship in Paris, and it is also the time when the Olympics are held in Paris, France again. At this special period, this exhibition is jointly organised by the Eric Liddell Community in the UK and the Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum. The exhibition is divided into four parts, which are the introduction; The first part: Extraordinary Experience; The second part: Unyielding Spirit; The third part: Centennial Remembrance. The exhibition period is from August 22 to September 5, a total of 15 days.
Weifang is a city of peace. In 2021, Weifang become the second International City of Peace in China. The Government of Weifang has organized a variety of peace commemoration activities at significant time nodes such as the World Anti-Fascist Victory Day, International Peace Day and the Liberation Day of Weihsien Concentration Camp. They Introduced peace into school education and create a strong atmosphere of cherishing peace and building peace in the whole society. By holding this exhibition, the Weifang Government wishes to unite with the British people to jointly commemorate the great Olympic champion Eric Liddell, and also hopes that the British people can feel the efforts and contributions created by Weifang citizens to remember the history and cherish peace.