Writer of Oscar-winning film “Chariots of Fire” dies at 81

Colin Welland, the writer for the Oscar-winning film “Chariots of Fire”, died on Monday at 81 in his home in London, U.K. The film, which was released in 1981, chronicled the true story of two Olympians, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, at the 1924 Olympics.

Welland died in his sleep due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease, according to the New York Times.

Welland, who won the 1982 Academy Award for best original screenplay, was memorably quoted during his acceptance speech announcing “the British are coming.”

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The film’s screenplay is famous for the individual triumphing the establishment as Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian, and Abrahams, an English Jew, competed for Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics in pursuit of fame.

The film earned seven Oscar nominations, winning four including the Academy Award for best picture and best director. The film is ranked No. 19 on the list of 100 greatest British films according to the British Film Institute.