‘Fast Eddie’ goes into ‘seclusion’

Press, 20 February 1988, Page 31

‘Fast Eddie’ goes into ‘seclusion’

By

TIM DUNBAR

in Calgary “Fast Eddie” Edwards, the British ski-jumping “hero” with an eagle emblazoned on his helmet, continues to be the focus of media attention in Calgary. So much that he has gone into “seclusion” and will not hold his next press conference until after the .menacing 90m jump — should he survive it on Sunday. British Olympic Committee press officers have had two people working full time answering queries on the intrepid Briton. Eddie has been adopted by some glamorous dancers, been the subject of an editorial in the “Calgary Herald,” and there are “Eddie the Eagle” T-shirts and posters all over town. There is also talk, of the myopic

part-time plasterer, aged 24, posing with models on a vodka company’s calendar and appearing on the Johnny Carson show. © The Australian journalist took a look at the 13 international time clocks lined up along a wall at the Main Press Centre at Calgary’s Stampede Park. Yes, all the important places seemed to be there. Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, New York, London, Paris, Helsinki, Moscow, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Sidney, Auckland. Then he had a double take. What, Sidney! His national pride hurt, the journalist complained loudly to the authorities. The change was effected and the Australian was satisfied — despite the fact that the “y” substituted for the “i” was a capital letter and sits on a funny angle.