Lochaber Ideas Week got off to a flying start yesterday with an evening in the company of one of Britain’s best-known and best-loved Olympians.
Michael ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards gave a motivational talk based on his incredible fight to compete in the Calgary Winter Olympics 1988.
The UK hadn’t entered a competitor in ski jumping for 60 years but, where there’s a will there’s a way, and Eddie earned the right to compete in the Winter Olympics against all the odds.
He may not have won – in fact he came last, or 58th as he likes to say – but he became the stand-out star of the competition.
A worldwide audience took him to their hearts because of his tenacity, bravery, positive attitude and good humour and he remains to this day our most successful ski jumper.
His amazing story has gone on to inspire a whole new generation since the 2016 release of the smash-hit feel-good comedy, Eddie the Eagle film starring Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman.
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Speaking at the event yesterday evening, the cheerful, engaging and self-deprecating Edwards said he remembered his Olympic experience with great fondness.
“The greatest moment of my life is standing on top of that jump, with the crowds shouting my name “Eddie, Eddie” and me waiting to take-off,” he said.
“I was just a plasterer from Cheltenham who was willing to give it a go.
“I loved to ski, but got kicked off the English Alpine ski team because my face didn’t fit, because my parents weren’t rich.”
In a powerful and inspiring talk, Eddie revealed he had even spent one season up in Glenshee – skiing and working to get in as much possible practice in.
He said: “I was always up for a challenge, or for the craic. If my friends dared me to do something I always would.”
Eddie spoke for almost an hour, before taking questions from an audience of more than 200 people.
Lochaber Ideas Week is an annual event, based in Fort William, that encourages people, and especially young people, to think differently about living and working in Lochaber.
Highlights of the week include The Charles Kennedy Lecture, which will presented by the former head of communications in Tony Blair’s government, Alistair Campbell, together with business networking events and expert business training.
During the week, the Dragon’s Glen will also pit business hopefuls against in each other in a bid to win £10,000 cash for the best new idea.