Eddie the Eagle Page #5

Don't make the same mistake, Eddie.

Okay? I'm begging you.

Do it right or don't do it at all.

You're crazy. This time a year ago

you were plowing snow.

And you were landing on your head.

Look at the progress we've made.

Exactly! This is my moment!

Don't make this your moment, please!

They'll make you a fool.

Well, I'd rather be a sober fool

than a drunken coward!

Any pinching under the arms, sir?

Maybe you were right,

we should have gone for 71 meters.

Yes, maybe you should have.

And where do you think you're going,

young man?

- The Olympics.

- I know.

I thought you might need this.

- Don't think I'll win any medals.

- Well, you never know, pet.

But if not, you'll like the sandwiches.

Thank you.

Your dad's sorry he couldn't come.

Have fun.

I will.

Skis in the back, Edwards.

He seems nice.

Yeah. Thanks for coming, Mum.

Okay, this guy right here.

Okay, give me some space, boys.

I'll catch you in five, fellas.

Gotta love them mountains, huh.

- Eddie, isn't it? Zach.

- I know.

This is my second Olympics.

So I know exactly how you're feeling.

Little bit overwhelmed?

- Just glad to be here really.

- Yeah, I bet.

I know Target's not a big fan,

but forget about him.

You're part of the team

and that makes you okay in my book.

In fact we've got

a little team tradition going.

I'd love you to come along.

I was gonna have a stroll

and get my bearings.

What do you need to know? We're in Canada.

You've got mountains and snow.

Now you've got your bearings.

You're gonna love this. Let's go.

I don't really drink, Zach.

Everybody on the team does it.

Do you wanna put a curse on us all?

A curse, really?

It's just a thing.

Some of the guys believe it.

It's for good luck...

but it's a team tradition, Ed.

And you are part of this team.

To the British team.

There you go, that's the spirit.

Can I get a lager beer

and a mineral water here, please?

- Do I have to do all five of them?

- Yeah, you bet.

Good choice. That's absinthe.

57 nations.

1,700 athletes.

60,000 spectators.

And more than 2 billion TV viewers

around the globe.

All have come together

for the 15th Olympic Winter Games...

where today...

the words will be spoken:

"Let the games begin!"

Where is he?

I can't see him.

What are they doing

with those stupid berets on?

It's all a bit stupid if you ask me.

I mean,

what have horses gotta do with skiing?

Okay.

I love this guy.

Wake up, Princess Anne.

My head.

How long have I got?

I'm sorry, it seems like you overslept.

Me and the fellas wanted to thank you

for helping us avoid that curse.

Think I'm about to have

my first fight, ever.

This is the complaint

I was telling you about.

- What's going on here?

- Team talk.

I find that rather surprising considering

you were not with the team earlier.

Any particular reason you were not with us

at the ceremony?

Upset tummy.

Had to come down and clean my kit.

You'd better get your nerves under control

otherwise you'll be jumping in a nappy.

The crowd have really come alive

at the sight of the Flying Finn.

Not what you'd call an accessible figure.

Prefers to let his jumping do the talking.

And here he comes.

Oh, my word! This is his first speech.

That is a big jump. That is very big.

It's over 100 meters. It's 114 meters.

That is a very impressive first jump.

The crowd are on their feet.

Mind you, he doesn't look very impressed...

because he sets himself

very high standards.

We'll definitely see him this time, love.

Yeah, falling on his arse.

The one participant from Great Britain...

number 24, Eddie Edwards.

And here he comes.

Britain's Michael "Eddie" Edwards.

Come on, Eddie.

Terry, love, he's about to jump. Come on.

A relative newcomer to the sport.

Not a lot of information about him.

He would never have experienced an

atmosphere like this before, that's for sure.

It'll be the first for me to be

commentating on a British...

ski-jumper at the Olympics

and let's hope he's the first of many.

Yes!

To say his style is unorthodox would be

something of an understatement...

but it obviously works for him.

And the scoreboard shows... 60.5 meters.

It is a new British Olympic record.

Oh, my God.

I'm a British record...

Mum, I love you. British record!

I love you, too, son.

I'm a British record holder! Yes!

And look at the young man.

He's overjoyed with himself.

And the crowd are loving this.

He's really getting them going.

Eddie, what are you doing? Not funny.

He may not have soared like an eagle,

but he's certainly flapping around like one.

Would you believe it?

Britain's Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards

having the time of his life.

The crowd have certainly taken

our Eddie "The Eagle" to their hearts.

What a character.

Looks like that's the last we'll be seeing

of Great Britain's Michael Edwards...

as he comes last in the 70 meter.

Some people are calling him

Eddie "The Eagle."

I think, given his distances,

Eddie "The Penguin"

would be a little more apt.

But at least we have the 90 meter

to look forward to.

Now this is the event that truly separates

the men from the boys.

One boy who won't be there

is Eddie "The Eagle"...

as it's hard to play up to the crowd

when you're strapped to a stretcher.

But now over to the bobsleigh event

where the Jamaican team

are trying to steal Eddie's...

Michael Edwards,

but everyone calls me Eddie.

Your name's not here.

Well, can you check again?

I am on the team.

You might be on the team

but you're not on the list.

- Appleby, you old dog.

- Zach.

Say hi to your daughter for me.

Eddie, there you are. I'm Carrie.

I handle the press for the British team.

Been looking all over for you.

Where have you been?

Here. I tried to get into the lunch

but my name's not on the list.

Never mind that.

There's a big press turn-out

and they want to hear your story.

- Wow. Really?

- Yes.

You must remember to thank

the British Olympic Association

for all their support.

- That's very important.

- Okay.

Don't be nervous.

Just be yourself and try and enjoy it.

Okay.

Control yourselves, people.

Everybody sit down.

One at a time. Sit down.

I'd like to introduce you to Eddie Edwards,

sometimes known as Eddie "The Eagle."

Hello, everybody.

- How long have you been ski-jumping for?

- Nearly almost a year.

I'm not sure, I haven't been counting.

Do you have your own skis?

Do you own your own skis?

I wasn't told about this.

What the hell is going on?

It's press. They can't get enough of him.

I get so many requests for interviews.

He's a PR dream.

Really?

Well it looks more like a nightmare.

Wind it up as soon as you can.

We have better things to do.

Will you do

one of your special eagle flaps for us?

What, this one?

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards

has divided opinion here in Calgary.

Some athletes and officials

are questioning his right to be here.

Hello, Eddie.

Clive North. The Sun.

Now, listen, there's a hairdresser in Bristol

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