THE producer of Chariots of Fire, who honoured the 1924 Paris Olympics in his film, has been snubbed by this edition's organisers.

Lord Puttnam, who was instrumental in the creation of the 1981 classic, has not been invited to the 2024, and nor have the relations of the film's real-life heroes: Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams.

Winchester author Mark Ryan recently published a book, with the help of Lord Puttnam, called Chariots Return, which recounts the story of the 1924 Olympics.

He said: "Zero respect has been shown to those who celebrated the last Paris Olympics and preserved and promoted the true Olympic spirit through the next 100 years. 

READ MORE: Chariots of Fire producer helps Winchester author with new book

Mark Ryan, author of Chariots Return, with his partner, Kate (Image: Mark Ryan)

"This seems so outrageous because these are precisely the people who kept the Olympic movement alive through times of trouble to reach where we are this year."

That said, Mr Ryan is delighted with the current enthusiasm for his work, no doubt intensified by the current Olympic fervour sweeping the world.

His book celebrates Olympic history and the Oscar-winning film, uncovering tales such as why the music is in the titles but didn’t make the actual film and why Eric Liddell ended up running the 400 metres.

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Mark started the book in the summer and has been helped by Tim Underwood, who often works with Sarsen Press in Winchester. Lord Coe and Sir Brendan Foster also contributed to the book.

The film, directed by Hugh Hudson and written by Colin Welland, follows British athletes Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell as they compete for gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Those interested in Chariots Return can find out more here.