The daughter of Olympic medallist Eric Liddell believes a new sports scholarship named in his honour will promote the values for which he stood.
Patricia Liddell Russell, the athlete's eldest daughter, made a rare visit from Canada to the UK for the event at the University of Edinburgh.
Her father, subject of the film Chariots of Fire, won gold in the 400m at the 1924 Paris Olympics while he was a student at Edinburgh.
The university said the Eric Liddell High Performance Sports Scholarships will ensure that student athletes will be better able to cope with the demands of competing at the highest level, no matter what their financial circumstances.
On Monday Mrs Russell, 77, applauded the scheme for supporting young athletes who may otherwise have struggled to find the money to help them reach their full potential.
She said: "I think the more young people that can use these opportunities, it can change their lives forever. This way, it's my father's hope, his spirit, working on, saying 'run, run for life, run for God'.
"The aim behind the scholarship is to promote good sportsmanship in the university and it will go to somebody that embodies those ideals. I'm all for that, it's great. I have a grand-daughter who runs and she says 'I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't run'. It clears the head, it makes you stronger and more settled, so I'm a firm believer in sport."
Mrs Russell has also spoken of her and her sisters' delight that their father is being honoured in such a way.
She said: "The scholarships perfectly capture his love of studying and athletics. Anything that helps today's students follow in his footsteps is to be encouraged and supported. We look forward to seeing many more Olympic champions come from the University of Edinburgh."
A major initiative to fund the scholarships begins next month, backed by two of the university's Olympians, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and rower Dr Katherine Grainger.
Liddell was the university's first Olympic hero. He won gold in the 400m and bronze in the 200m at the Olympic Games in Paris 1924 while studying pure science. He famously refused to compete in his best event, the 100m, because it was held on a Sunday.
His triumph has been immortalised in several books, documentaries and the film Chariots of Fire.
Lord (David) Puttnam, producer of Chariots of Fire, said: "I can think of no better way of honouring Eric's name than through the creation of these scholarships. They embody an important part of what Eric stood for, and make it possible for future generations to benefit, in a tangible way, from his unselfish example of a life well-lived."
On Monday Mrs Russell visited a charitable centre in her father's name.
There, she met the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and formally opened the latest phase of a refurbishment at the Eric Liddell Centre in the city's Morningside area.
She said: "This centre is wonderful. I can hardly believe the hard work that has gone into this place over the years, and the people that have the vision, the passion, the energy. I think that my father would be delighted with this and we, as a family, are just so pleased. We are delighted and we'd do anything to help with it."
