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Hoy meets PM at University event

Olympic hero Chris Hoy met Gordon Brown ahead of a reception in Beijing hosted by the University on Friday.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown, Chris Hoy and Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea at the Beijing reception.

The world-beating cyclist and the Prime Minister, both Edinburgh graduates, took tea with Principal Sir Timothy O’Shea, and the British ambassador to China, Sir William Ehrman, at the British Embassy.

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Watch a video report on the University's reception in Beijing.

Beijing Reception (Windows Media video)

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Sporting success

The reception was an opportunity for Sir Timothy to meet University graduates who have contributed to Britain’s sporting success in Beijing.

Also in attendance was Edinburgh graduate Katherine Grainger, who won a silver medal in the women's quadruple sculls.

More than 200 people attended the reception, including Team GB medallists, the Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown and distinguished Edinburgh alumni based in China.

Strong traditions

The University has long standing ties with China and hosts Scotland’s first Confucius Institute.

Olympic gold medallist and Edinburgh graduate Eric Liddell was born in China and lived there for many years.

It was wonderful to meet Chris Hoy again at this event, which was a celebration of our strong sporting traditions and our longstanding links with China. Chris has been a great ambassador for the University since graduating in Applied Sport Science in 1999 and he, Katherine Grainger and others are continuing the story of Olympic success in which Eric Liddell was also a key player.”

Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea

Principal of the University

Outstanding student

Chris Hoy has always maintained that studying Applied Sport Science at Edinburgh brought an extra dimension to his cycling performance.

Chris, who is remembered as an outstanding student, has said that the course enabled him to understand the physical and psychological demands of cycling.