Eddie the Eagle cheers city interest in Games bid
Eddie the Eagle, the unlikely Olympic hero made famous during the Calgary 1988 Winter Games, says he’s all for the city putting together a bid for the 2026 Olympics.
British ski jumper Michael Edwards ,53, better known as Eddie the Eagle, paid a special visit to Canada Olympic Park on Sunday, and said he was thrilled to hear of Calgary’s interest in hosting the biggest winter competition in the world.
“I think it’s great that they’re thinking of putting in a bid. I hope they win if they do go for it,” Edwards said. “I would love to come back for it. I’ll be 60 then — maybe I’ll start training now and could actually be quite a good ski jumper by then.”
Last June, city council approved $5 million to conduct a 15-month exploration process on a potential bid. The Calgary Bid Exploratory Committee (CBEC), led by former police chief Rick Hanson, is four months out from completing a feasibility study, which will help determine whether Calgary should participate in the formal bid process.
With interest in the bidding process shown from both the provincial and federal governments, the CBEC said venue upgrades to Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park as well as new ski jumps and a second arena would be necessary in order to host the Games.
The CBEC is expected to make a recommendation to city council in July, after which council will decide whether to proceed with a formal bid.
To the delight of hundreds of fans crowding the ski jumps at Canada Olympic Park, Eddie the Eagle — sporting his colourful, speckled glasses and a big grin — put on his skis and jumped for the first time in 20 years.
“It felt just as it did 29 years ago — it was just as scary,” he said with a laugh.
“I was in Kicking Horse doing a series of promotions and I thought, I’m so close to the jumps I have to come have a look.”
Fans also couldn’t help having a
Everybody held their breath when he was on the K90 — in our minds it was the first time he ever jumped the large hill.
look, with dozens waving U.K. flags and chanting his famous nickname as Edwards braved the K18 and K38 jumps.
“It’s so great to see him come out again today,” said Todd Stretch, who said he watched Edwards during the ’88 Olympics.
“I was in the bowl with about 100,000 people. Everybody held their breath when he was on the K90 — in our minds it was the first time he ever jumped the large hill.”
Despite his last place finishes almost 30 years ago, Edwards’ perseverance and dedication made him a beloved figure worldwide. A movie starring Hugh Jackman called Eddie the Eagle was released last year about his miraculous journey to the Olympics, making it the second film based around the Calgary Olympics.
“It was my dream to get to those Olympic Games despite everybody saying it was impossible,” he said.
“No matter how many people say you can’t do something, use that as inspiration to prove them wrong.”