Eddie the Eagle: ‘Vote for another Olympics’

CALGARY – The Yes side of the Calgary 2026 bid is getting a boost from a huge ’88 legacy.

Michael “Eddie” Edwards, better known as Eddie the Eagle, landed at the Calgary International Airport Sunday, telling Calgarians to “check the little box that says ‘yes'” on Nov. 13. “Vote for another Olympics!” he smiled, adding the Winter Games are a very special event.

The Brit who owned hearts of Calgarians and Canadians alike in 1988 told a group of admirers and reporters waiting at YYC it’s great to be back in Calgary.

“I was in Calgary for the Stampede in July so it’s always nice to come back to Calgary… I feel like this is my home–it’s where Eddie the Eagle was born shall I say.”

He is not the first athlete to support the yes side of the debate; Jarome Iginla, Haley Wickenheiser, Jesse Lumsden, and Kaillie Humphries are a just a handful of the hometown heroes pushing for a yes vote.

Eddie says an Olympic games can bring a lot to a city, like enthusiasm, excitement, love of sports, and camaraderie, pointing to the ’88 games. “I think back…Calgarians were so proud to host the Olympic Games. It was such a special Olympics. I’m really biased,” he said, adding it was his dream to compete in a games.

“It was a fantastic Olympics.” As far as the magic of a games goes, Eddie told CityNews the Olympics are not made special by the “characters” that come out of it.

READ MORE: Calgary Olympic debate shifting towards plebiscite arguments

“I’m not sure if there will be other characters like myself anymore at the Olympics, but that doesn’t make the Olympics any less special. I think all the athletes that go there it’s their dream to be there and they want to do well and it’s always a very special event, and I’m hoping that will remain so despite other difficulties.”

He says hopefully a 2026 Olympics will be bigger and than the games that put him on the map and says it’s time to put Calgary back in the spotlight. He added the 2026 games don’t necessarily mean Calgary needs to build new facilities. “Why build new ski jumps if you’ve already got them? Use what you’ve got.”

READ MORE: The debate over Olympic infrastructure for a Calgary 2026 bid

If Calgary does vote yes and moves forward with a bid, Eddie says he will absolutely be there for it eight years from now.

“Of course–if I’m still alive!” he joked.

Calgarians vote in a non-binding plebiscite Nov. 13.

-with files from Kass Patterson, 660 NEWS and Derek Brade, CityNews

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