‘Chariots of Fire’ II in Britain?

In what the British press is portraying as a near-repeat of the 1924 drama depicted in “Chariots of Fire,” Jonathan Edwards, the country’s second-best triple jumper, said in Friday’s editions of the Daily Mail that he is willing to risk missing the Olympic Games rather than compromise his religious beliefs.

Edwards, a devout Christian, will not compete in the triple jump this weekend at the British track and field trials because the event is scheduled for Sunday. Instead, he will go to church Sunday morning and watch the trials at home on television.

“My Christian beliefs are more important to me than athletics,” Edwards said. “No matter what anyone says, I am not competing on a Sunday. God is my life, whereas athletics is just my sport.”

“Chariots of Fire” told the story of sprinter Eric Liddell, who refused to compete in the 100 meters in the 1924 Olympics because it was held on the Sabbath. Liddell instead competed in the 400 meters, and won a gold medal.

The first two finishers in the triple jump automatically qualify for the Seoul Olympics. Edwards, who seemed a certainty to win a trip to the Games, still could be picked by the selectors as Britain’s third triple jumper, but with the squad to be announced Monday, Edwards could be overtaken if rivals have exceptional performances in the trials.

The event will not be held on a Sunday at Seoul.