The Eagle flies again as Calgary celebrates Olympic anniversary
Two athletes who became icons of the 1988 Olympics despite not winning any medals flew off a ski tower in Calgary on Wednesday as part of the city's celebration of the Games' 20th anniversary.
It was 20 years ago that the Olympic flame was lit at McMahon Stadium to kick off the 16-day event, putting the city of Calgary on the international stage.
Former ski jumper Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards, 44, wore his 1988 blue and white British Olympic uniform as he strapped on a harness and zipped down a cable suspended from a 90-metre tower at Canada Olympic Park.
The zip line is meant to simulate how it feels during a ski jump.
Former Jamaican bobsledder Devon Harris pushed off at the same time as Edwards. Both men will be guests at an anniversary event Wednesday evening at the Olympic park.
"Calgary has left an indelible mark in my life," said Harris, whose team crashed and finished last. "This city and the people of this city have been such gracious hosts, I can't forget."
Edwards finished last in both the 70-metre and 90-metre jumps, but he won first place in the hearts of many fans. His thick glasses and easy-going personality led to more media interview requests than any other athlete at the Games, reported CBC at the time.
"I was very much an amateur sportsman against these great big Goliath nations of ski-jumping. And that's what the Olympics was all about," said Edwards on Wednesday.
"It was a dream of mine to get to those Olympic Games and hopefully I would've inspired a lot of other people to chase their dreams and they might come true, just like they did for me. I think there were some powerful reasons why I became so popular at Calgary — as well as my good looks, of course."
Former figure skater Elizabeth Manley, now a coach, is also in Calgary for anniversary celebrations and recalls the energy that rippled through the city.
"The memories are not only of me having done the best performance of my life and winning the medal and everything, but my memories are the energy this city had and the excitement of the Olympics in Calgary," she said.
"I haven't felt that excitement in these other Olympics I've attended."
Manley became Canada's sweetheart when she defied expectations and won a silver medal in women's figure skating despite battling pneumonia and an ear infection.
"I would say 85 per cent of fans of skating and people who come out to watch me think I'm from Calgary," said Manley, who is from Ottawa.
Canada won a total of five medals in the 1988 Olympics.