It appears Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards won’t be jumping on New Year’s Day at age 50 after all. He could jump before that, though.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) denied the Brit’s bid to be a fore jumper at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, leg of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament on New Year’s Day.
FIS said it hasn’t received communication from the British Ski and Snowboard Federation, which it mandated must give permission for Edwards to jump, according to Agence France-Presse translating a report from Germany’s Bild.
“Therefore a jump isn’t possible,” FIS race director Walter Hof said, according to the report. “A show-act jump is also not an option for us, we don’t go in for fun jumping, we want a competitive World Cup event.”
Edwards jumped to infamy at the 1988 Olympics, finishing in last place in both the normal and large hill competitions in a follied effort.
“What would happen when Eddie the Eagle falls and is badly hurt?” Hofer said. “We don’t want to take on the responsibility for that.”
More reports in German on Wednesday indicated Edwards could jump in Oberstdorf, Germany, where the Four Hills Tournament opens Dec. 30.
Again, Edwards would not jump competitively, but with kids as part of an event dubbed “Beat the Eagle.”
